Arizona Women’s Basketball was an easy team to root for all year long

The Arizona Women’s Basketball team was an easy one to cheer for this year, as the Cats fought and competed with determination, winning the hearts of fans.

Tucson is a college town that has always been, and will forever be loyal to the University of Arizona and their sports teams. Whether they are sitting in the one hundred plus degree heat, or strolling through the friendly confines of the McKale Center to even cheer for the Arizona Women’s Basketball team, Arizona fans are guaranteed to pack the building wherever the Wildcats play. .

As the saying goes, ‘if you can build it, they will come” and Coach Barnes and her program are doing just that, as they have captured not only the WNIT Championship, but they hearts of the die-hard fans in Tucson.

Arizona Wildcats

For many years, the Arizona Women’s Basketball have taken a back seat to the Men’s program, always deemed as an after thought. It may be because the lack of talent, or the consecutive losing seasons that they Women have endured, however, that may not quite be the case anymore.

This season showed that things may be on the up for Cats. These feisty Wildcats came out this year with something to prove, and hopefully something to build on after a disastrous 6-24 season the year before.

All along they knew it was going to be a challenge, but they never backed down. They stood tall and when they got punched in the face, they picked themselves off the floor and fought right back.

It was the leadership of their star Aari McDonald who was their rock all season long, always coming through in the clutch and providing that spark when the team needed it the most. This could surely be seen as the Wildcats won 24 games, en route to their first WNIT championship since 1996, when McDonald came up big as she always does, with 19 points and seven rebounds.

She also got consistent help from her teammates as they battled tooth and nail for every win they could get. Another key to Arizona’s success was the stellar play from freshman Cate Reese. A former McDonald’s All-American, who by the end of the year looked like a seasoned vet out on the floor.

All the blood, sweat and tears paid throughout the season paid off as the Wildcats went on to defeat Northwestern by a final score of 56-42. A monumental win like this called for a celebration and that they did so, as the team accomplished what they set their minds to do in the beginning of the season.

https://twitter.com/ArizonaWBB/status/1114647030758961152

This also couldn’t have been without the amazing fans who showed up and were loud throughout the postseason run. There is no doubt that this team fed off the energy and excitement that the fans brought to the McKale Center during this post season run. Along with the support of famous alumni and another well known coach on campus in Sean Miller.

Now lets capture this moment and build on it. Do not let this feeling leave or be forgotten. Make sure to enjoy while it last, but know come next season, the expectation will be for us to do better. By doing that, we will continue to climb that mountain among the Women’s College Basketball elite.

Great job to everyone who was part of this amazing ride in the 2018-2019 season, and as always Bear Down and Go Cats!