Meet Gonzaga Women’s Incoming Freshmen Class

Gonzaga coach Lisa Fortier found three recruits in the 2025 class, with only one being from the West Coast.

Julia Wilson is a 5-10 combo guard/wing from Temecula, California. In her career with Rancho Christian (the same school that produced the Mobley Twins and Dominick Harris), she averages 16.5 points per game on 50 percent field goal shooting, along with 6.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. The versatile weapon was named MaxPreps Player of the Year in her junior season.

“We are really excited to have Julia as a part of our program. She is capable of playing every position on the floor. She will be able to help relieve pressure, play strong around the basket and guard every position. Julia is a good shooter and as good a culture fit for GU as there is out there.” – Gonzaga coach Lisa Fortier

Jaiden Hale is a 6-2 power forward from Fargo, North Dakota. She played high school ball for West Fargo Horace and AAU ball with North Tarton. She originally was committed to North Dakota before switching to the Zags. Her immense frame, plus long wingspan, allows her to play physically around the rim and helps pull down rebounds with force on the offensive glass while bursting back up for a quick two. Hale runs the floor back hard to prevent fastbreaks from happening and shows toughness on the defensive end when boxing out her opponents. She was named First Team All-State in her senior campaign.

She is such a strong and tough defender, and is always willing to sacrifice her body for the good of the group. She is very skilled around the basket and all the way out to the three-point line. Jaiden is a positive and directive leader, who will make everyone around her better. Her work ethic and the way she goes about her business on and off the court make it seem like she was born to be a Zag.“ – Gonzaga coach Lisa Fortier

Paige Lofing is a 5-9 point guard from Billings, Montana, and is a high-volume scorer. She averaged 23.3 points on 56 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep, 4.7 steals, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.o assists per game in her senior season with Huntley Project and scored over 30 points a total of six times. Lofing was a three-time First Team All-State selection during her high school career, as well as being named Monta’s Player of the Year in 2025-26.

“She is a very talented point guard, who has an offensive skill set that will allow her to play off the ball as well. She has grown tremendously as a leader in the past two years, and provides a steadiness at the position that is beyond her years. She has a great combination of shooting ability and athletic drive game.” – Gonzaga coach Lisa Fortier

With photo day occurring for both the women’s and men’s basketball programs on Monday, the players’ numbers were also announced by the program.

Here is the rest of the 2025-26 squad looking to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season (includes five players from the transfer portal and five returning players):

5-9 senior guard Vera Gunaydin – South Georgia Tech/Ankara, Turkey

6-0 graduate forward Sierra Lichtie – Cal Poly/Riverton, Utah

5-9 senior guard Ines Bettencourt – UConn/Sao Miguel, Portugal

5-8 sophomore guard Allie Turner – John Burroughs/Saint Louis, Missouri

5-11 sophomore guard Christabel Osarobo – Ipswich Basketball Academy/Tudela, Spain

6-2 junior forward Taylor Smith – Weber State/Pocatello, Idaho

6-0 junior forward McKynnlie Dalan – Minnesota/Montesano, Washington

5-10 sophomore guard Teryn Gardner – Boise State/Spokane, Washington

6-3 redshirt freshman forward Lauren Whittaker – Canterbury, New Zealand

5-10 junior guard Zeryhia Aokuso – Saint Mary’s/Amarillo, Texas

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho