In my conversation with Coach Charmin Smith from August, Coach Smith emphasized the program’s sense of family and community as a key factor in retaining players;
“We really want this to be a place where people don’t want to leave. It makes it really hard for people to take that step to enter the portal.”
To that end, Cal has four returning starters from last season. Three other returners, four high-ceiling freshman recruits, and three impactful transfer players round out a deep and balanced roster.
Barring injury, Cal’s starting lineup will be;
G Mjracle Sheppard. Senior, 9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 streals per game with 33 starts last season.
G Lulu Twidale. Senior, 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists per game. Amongst nation leaders in 3-points made.
G Gisella Maul. Senior, 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists per game. Carried the team in stretches last season.
F Taylor Barnes. Sophomore, 9 points, 5 rebounds per game with 25 starts.
C Albina Syla. Junior, transfer from Rhode Island, where she averaged 9 points and 7 assists last year. Named A-10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Center
The center position may be a rotational spot between the 6’ 5” Syla, 6’ 1” returnee Naya Ojkuwu and 6’ 4” Freshman Jovana Jevtovic. Ojukwu (7 points, 3 rebounds per game) was the primary backup last season and used when Cal went with a small lineup. Syla earned the start against UCLA, with Jevtovic subbing in midway through the first period. Jevtovic brings FIBA and Euroleague experience, playing for the Serbian Under-20 FIBA team in 2025 and Sopron Basket of the Euroleague in 2025-2026.
Forward
Behind Taylor Barnes, 6’2” Freshman Zara Russell joins Ojukwu in providing size and length on the interior. Russell is one of Coach Smith’s “We love our Aussies!” recruits, representing Australia in the FIBA Under-19 tournament in 2025.
Guard
Freshman Ruby Perkins is the highlight of the incoming freshman class. Perkins was teammates with fellow Aussie Zara Russell on the 2025 U-19 team. Perkins’ is a well rounded player, averaging 4 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds over the course of leading the U19 team to the sliver medal at the 2025 World Cup. Perkins got the starting nod against UCLA with Mjracle Sheppard resting.
Senior Shannon Dowell transferred in from Missouri, where she averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds per game for the Tigers last season. She turned the ball over 3.5 times per game last season, compared the Sheppard’s 2.5 times per game. If Dowell can limit her turnovers, she will be a major depth piece for the upcoming season and be looked to for off-the-bench scoring spark.
The ten players discussed so far will most likely garner the large majority of minutes this season. Freshman C Anna Lagonikaki, sophomore G Carly Amborn, senior G Anastasia Drousini and junior G Sophia Bowes round out the roster.
Coach Charmin Smith has had her greatest success at Cal with a team of four plus-shooting guards/forwards, joined by an anchor in the center. Two years ago, shooters Lulu Twidale, Ioanni Krimili, Marta Suarez and Kayla Smith were joined by Michelle Onyiah on the interior to lead the team to the NCAA Tournament. Last year, C Sakima Walker was joined by Twidale, Sheppard, Barnes and Puff Morris and nearly reached the tournament.
This year, Cal boasts exceptional guard and wing experience with Twidale, Sheppard, Barnes and Maul. The challenge will be in finding where the interior presence comes from. Syla, and Jevtovic are skilled but slight in build, and Ojukwu is best served as a motion forward. UCLA’s big and strong lineup caused havoc in the center on Wednesday night. If Cal can find consistent interior play, this could be a special season for the Golden Bears.
Player Most Likely to Score 40 Points: Lulu Twidale. Twidale can be a streaky shooter, and can follow a 2-of-12 night with a 10-of-12 night and be unstoppable if she gets a clean look.
Player Most Likely to Record a Triple Double: Tie, Gisella Maul and Taylor Barnes. Barnes is best used as a big wing in Coach Smith’s system. She recorded two double-doubles in points and rebounds last year. As she continues her development, I expect her to be used occasionally as a pivot forward and see an increase in assists opportunities. Gisella Maul recorded five double-doubles in points and rebounds last year, and maxed out at six assists. To reach triple digits in assists, she just needs the right gameflow where her scoring runs provide opportunities for quick passes that lead to scoring opportunities for her teammates
Player Most Important To Team Defensive Identity: Mjracle Sheppard. Sheppard is Cal’s best perimeter defender, and led the team with 71 steals last season, near the top of the conference. able to lock down the top opposing perimeter player one on one. Cal will most likely be using a committee for interior defense. Sheppard’s ability to lock down the top perimeter threat one-on-one grants some freedom to her backcourt and wing teammates to cheat a bit on interior defensive help. Rotations, defensive help and double teams become less risky knowing Sheppard is locking down a top guard or wing threat.
Most Likely Breakout player: Ruby Perkins. She got the starting nod against UCLA. It took her one half of basketball to acclimate to the college game. She was hitting shots, diving for loose balls, and showing all around grit and intensity. She was Cal’s best player in the second half. Her shot form is textbook, as well.
UCLA Observations
The defending national champions may have lost four players to the WNBA, but they reloaded with several high impact transfers and boasted a #13 preseason ranking. This matchup was bound to be a challenge for the Golden Bears.
UCLA boast four large interior players in Sienna Betts, Addy Brown, Amanda Muse and Timinea Gardner, all 6’ 2” or taller. Any drive-and-scoop action from Lulu Twidale’s eurostep or Taylor Barnes drives were quickly stuffed. Cal’s outside shot was not falling, going 0-for-10 in the first half. UCLA led 32-19 at half as Cal was held to 8-of-24 shooting.
Cal woke up in the second half, fueled by Ruby Perkins. The freshman scored 10 points in the quarter on 4/4 shooting, and Cal was able to cut the lead to 7. UCLA closed the quarter on 10-0 scoring run to lead 57-40 entering the final period.
UCLA cruised in the fourth quarter on their way to an 87-53 victory.
Cal did not have a good game. They shot poorly (31% overall, 14% from deep), were outrebounded 46-33, were outscored in the paint 46-30, and allowed too many open 3-pointers (11-of-16 from deep). For this article, I drafted the framework of the roster overview before the UCLA game. This game bore out my comments and concerns about finding consistent interior play, but Cal was outplayed across all three levels on Wednesday.
Lulu Twidale had an off night, shooting 5-of-20, including 3-of-12 from deep. She was the only Cal player to connect from long range.
Bright spots include Ruby Perkins’ hustle and readiness for this level of play. Perkins shot 4-of-8 for the game, 12 points total, and added 5 rebounds. Taylor Barnes showed solid play all around, also shooting 4-of-8 to go with a team leading 6 rebounds.
I am choosing to not read too much into this game. Coach Smith’s comments postgame were focused on the learning opportunities of facing the top options possible in this matchup and next week’s game against USC. She was encouraged by the low number of turnovers (11), and mentioned that Cal needs to execute better and making better choices, like not driving into Sienna Betts and expecting a clean look. “I think we’re a much better shooting team than we showed today. We’ll make shots. But this is what we wanted, to be tested really early and to be challenged. I just think we’ll grow from this and be better going forward.”
ACC Preseason Notes
In the recent ACC Media Preseason Poll, Lulu Twidale was selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team, finishing 10th in voting amongst the over 50 potential candidates. Twidale was the only candidate from Cal.
Cal was predicted to finish in 10th place. On my ballot, I had them in seventh. It’s hard to argue about the top four teams of Duke, Louisville, Notre Dame, and North Carolina. All four teams are in the preseason top 20, and boast a very good mix of returning players and incoming talent.
Cal is in the next tier of six teams who are looking to challenge and potentially move into that top tier. Syracuse, NC State, Cal, Miami, Clemson and Virginia are all in this group of teams that will battle for 5th-10th place. I am surprised but not shocked that Cal was selected tenth. I expect these teams will beat each other up, feed on the bottom tier (Hello, Stanford) and snipe a win or two from the top tier.
Ruby had a really rough start, was bullied by UCLA’s experience and she looks really slight (and young) but she had a ton of resilience and a very Australian attitude, really bounced back and was willing to stick her nose in and grind and dive on the floor. Shes going to be a fan favorite.
I was also impressed with Zara Russell - who didn’t do anything but she ran very hard and has good size and athleticism - she seems more physically ready for NCAA ball than Ruby does.
Syla and Jevtovic were kind of thrown into the deep end against UCLA - thankfully we aren’t going to see that much size the rest of the season.
I attended last night's game and came away very impressed with Ruby Perkins particularly her play in the second half. No fear in her. She is going to be a big contributor for the Bears this season.
She'll likely handle point guard duties until Mjracle returns maybe even after. Did Coach Smith discuss Mjracle's injury situation at all? Looks like her knee as she had a bit of a limp last night. We need her defensive prowess.