Cal Women's 2025 College Basketball Season Begins in France

Cal reloads their roster as they look to stay in the top half of the ACC

Graphic courtesy Cal Athletics

In their inaugural year of the ACC, the Cal Women’s Basketball Team exceeded preseason expectations en route to Coach Charmin Smith’s most successful season in her nine years of leading the Bears. Originally tabbed for 14th place, the Bears;

• Went 25-9 overall, including 16-1 at home

• Finished 7th place in the ACC with a 12-6 conference record, including a victory over conference co-champ NC State.

• Swept Stanford, the first time Cal has won both games against their rival since 1985-86.

• Earned an 8-seed in the NCAA Tournament, losing in the first round to Mississippi State.

• Coach Smith finished 3rd in ACC Coach of the Year voting and earned a new 5-year contract that runs through 2030.

Returning starter Lulu Twidale and reserves Gisella Maul, Anastasia Drosouni and Lola Donez accounted for 29% of the team’s minutes last year, and only 22% of their scoring. With a top-10 incoming freshmen class and several solid transfer portal players, can the Bears reload and challenge for a spot in the top half of the conference?

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Here is Nick’s roster breakdown from this summer on the incoming transfer portal players Mjracle Sheppard, Naya Ojukwu and Sakima Walker.

Here is my conversation with Coach Smith from August, discussing the upcoming season and other topics.

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Projected Starters

G Puff Morris
G Lulu Twidale
F Taylor Barnes
G Mjracle Sheppard
C Sakima Walker

Sakima Walker during Cal’s exhibition win over Westmont College. Photo courtesy Rob Hwang.

The 6’ 5” Walker was recently added to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year watchlist. She is excellent in transition, and uses her size to create space down low. If she stays healthy and can play 25 minutes a game, Cal will have an excellent anchor in the interior.

In the exhibition win over Westmont, Freshman PG Aliyanha “Puff” Morris displayed excellent court vision and a deft passing touch in running the Bears’ offense. She plays bigger than her 5’ 5” size, and is not afraid of driving the lane.

Lulu Twidale scored an unofficial 31 points in the exhibition win. She seems to have worked on her shooting mechanics, speeding up the catch-and-shoot motion without losing her accuracy. When asked about it post-game, Twidale’s response; “I’m always refining my shot, but then I’ve also been working on becoming a three level scorer, and also turn the ball over less and facilitate for my team, as well.”

Mjracle Sheppard sat out the exhibition game out of caution as she recovers from a recent illness. She is expected to be the lock-down perimeter defender in a ACC Conference that is stacked with standout backcourts.

F Taylor Barnes. Photo courtesy of

Freshman F Taylor Barnes is a top-100 recruit who, if possible, is flying under the radar entering the season. In the exhibition win, Barnes displayed an excellent all-around game. At 6’ 1”, she is able to take advantage of smaller defenders in getting to the baskets, she is active on interior defense, and capably handled the ball when called upon. With a roster that is lacking size outside of Walker, her inside-outside play will be crucial.

Key Reserves

G Gisella Maul
G Lola Donez
F Naya Ojukwu
F Claudia Langarita

Maul started the exhibition, and displayed more confidence and decisiveness than she displayed last year. She was fearless in driving the lane and frequently found open teammates as the defense collapsed on her.

Donez played 10 minutes per game last year. Like Maul, Donez showed increased confidence and decisiveness in the exhibition game, and was first player off the bench.

Ojukwu, last year’s MEAC Newcomer of the Year, plays bigger than her 6’ 1’’ frame. When Cal went with a small-ball lineup, Ojukwu played the center spot and was able to body up with her bigger defenders.

Langarita returns after missing all of last year due to injury. At 6’ 4”, she plays more of a stretch forward role than a pure post player. On Tuesday, she played a pivot role on the interior, receiving the interior pass than immediately looking for cutters or open shooters before initiating her own offensive move.

Offensive Outlook

Last year, Cal’s offense focused on motion to set up the multiple shooters with favorable shots, or post play with Michelle Onyiah on the interior. This year, expect more of a drive-and-dish approach with Morris playing more of a pure PG role than Cal had last year. On Tuesday, Cal’s first seven offensive positions involved downard action towards the basket. Lulu Twidale will continue to be the focal point of the offense at least early on, while Walker offers an excellent second option in the post. Cal has multiple guard and wing players who are capable of driving to the basket, while Cal’s motion will look to free up shooters for the kickout pass and shot.

Defensive Outlook

Cal will primarily play man-to-man defense, with Sheppard drawing the primary defensive assignment. Though lacking in depth at top-end size, Cal’s rosters features eight players between 5’ 10’ and 6’ 0”. They’ll need to improve on their footwork from Tuesday night as Westmont was able to turn the corner on the perimeter and drive effectively on multiple occasions. Walker will anchor the interior defense, and will be near the top of the conference in blocked shots.

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Cal will be a more well-rounded team this year, with Puff Morris being potentially Cal’s best point guard since Alexis Gray-Lawson. The ACC is stacked, with 5 teams in the preseason Top 25 poll. While I don’t think Cal will be able to crack that top group, I believe they will finish in the next tier down that will be fighting for bubble spots come March. This year, the Bears are picked to finish 12th in conference, while I picked them to finish ninth in my media vote. If Walker stays healthy and Langarita and Ojukwu can fill 40-minutes on the interior, and Morris and Barnes excel as freshman starters, Cal will surprise most people. If health becomes a concern, and the newcomers (both freshman and transfers) hit a wall in transitioning to ACC play, Cal will struggle in the deep conference.

Cal opens the season on Monday, playing in the Oui Classic in Paris against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Like Walker, Vanderbilt’s C Aalyah Del Rosario was named to Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Watchlist. The 6’ 6” center is one of six players for the Commodore who are 6’ 3” or taller. How Cal is able to handle Vanderbilt’s size will go a long way to determine the outcome, and give us a good gauge of how the season may play out.

Cal Athletics are hosting a watch party at Cali’s Sports Bar on Telegraph Avenue. Students who attend will get a free ticket to the Men’s Basketball game Monday evening against CSU-Bakersfield.