With their historic 2023-24 season in the rearview mirror, the Oregon State University women’s basketball team coming off an Elite Eight appearance, look to repeat their success for their 2024-25 season.
After a 24-7 season, the OSU women’s basketball team found themselves in the Elite Eight during the 2023-24 March Madness playoff series after an impressive three-game start. Before having their Cinderella season cut short in a loss to the number-one-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks 58-70.
The upcoming season has high expectations following the incredible run. However, there are already possible roadblocks ahead for the Beavers.
“It meant the world that we can continue what we’ve begun,” said head coach Scott Rueck about returning players. “So for those who stayed, that remains, and so I’m very excited to keep that process going. It’s a very special thing that we built, and I’m excited to continue with them.”
Eight players entered the transfer portal over the offseason. They all accounted for 81% of Oregon’s points scored last year. Key players such as Raegan Beers to Oklahoma, Timea Gardiner to UCLA and Talia Von Oelhoffen to USC, all transferred out.
Now there are still positive moves that were made over the offseason, with Oregon State having a few transfers coming in.
“You go into every year with a new version of people anyway, so for me, it’s fun getting to know them, getting to figure out who we are now, and to just help them each grow,” said Rueck at their preseason press conference.
Catarina Ferreria played her first two years for the Baylor Bears. Hailing from Brazil, Ferreria was named Freshman of the Year in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference in 2021.
Along with her comes a former teammate from Eastern Arizona College, Tiara Bolden, a fellow senior, who is transferring from La Salle.
Despite the many faces gone, the team remains optimistic. “It’s tough, cause a lot of us became good friends, we became a family, especially with how far we made it, but I think coach has put it great, that even with everybody leaving, we still need and want to keep our success going,” said returning senior AJ Marotte.
The team embodies a family feel.
Marotte and returning senior Kelsey Rees are seen in leadership roles because of their experiences with the squad, guiding the freshmen and transfers on what to expect from Beaver Nation.
“I know we’re all excited to show what we can do now and how well we can do it, our defense will definitely be a big part of the team this year,” said Rees.
Despite heading into the season unranked, ESPN has the Beavers with the 12th-best odds to win it all at 10,000+.
The Beavers now eagerly await their season opener at new PAC-12 addition, Colorado State on Nov. 11 and Dec. 3 against Grambling University at home, Gill Coliseum.
“Corvallis has become home honestly, it’s one of my favorite places. Gill is one of my favorite places to be in, playing for Scott (Rueck) has been amazing,” said Marrotte at the West Coast Conference media day in Las Vegas.