The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2024-25 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State Basketball is sponsored by CSULB Distinguished Alumnus Nelson Farris.
Year one of the Amy Wright era for Long Beach State women’s basketball had its share of ups and downs. The Beach experienced some growing pains with a new coaching staff and overhauled roster, but also showed some positive signs along the way before making an encouraging run to the Big West Tournament semifinals.
There’s a little more familiarity heading into the 2024-25 season, with a handful of returners supplemented by Wright’s first full recruiting class, and the Beach hopes that familiarity can help bring more wins in the months ahead.
“The biggest difference for me is adding the five returners,” Wright said of how things are different in year two. “We’re still young with those returners–we have three seniors and two sophomores in that group, and then we have basically eight new kids. So we’re still new, and still learning each other, and they’re still kind of learning me and my style.”
Long Beach State has the benefit of returning its leading scorer from last season. Savannah Tucker broke out with career highs across the board, averaging 12.4 points per game. Now the fifth-year senior is ready to build on that performance and fill a crucial role for the black & gold.
Tucker said that the trust she felt from her coaches and teammates last season helped her perform at a higher level, scoring in double digits 22 times for the Beach.
“I think a big part of it was confidence, and I knew that was going to be a big factor coming into that year with the new coaching staff and a new team,” Tucker explained. “But when you have people that believe in you constantly, it makes it easier for you just to go out and play. And I feel like I fit better in a system where I’m given opportunities.”
Tucker will be joined in the backcourt by senior Patricia Chung, who also embraced a larger role in 2023 as LBSU’s lead guard. Chung led the team with 84 assists with an even assist-to-turnover ratio, and she was a 35 percent shooter from beyond the arc. As the only player to start all 33 games for the Beach, she provided needed stability and leadership on the floor.
“Pat has really taken on the leadership role on the court. She’s grown quite a bit in that area, so it’s exciting for me to watch her grow,” Wright said of her veteran backcourt. “They’re starting to understand different aspects of the game of basketball. Even though we’re playing fast, the game has really slowed down for them, where they can make reads and they’re making the right decisions with the ball, whether that’s to shoot it or share it.”
Lovely Sonnier is the other returning senior who was new to the Beach last year. She battled through injuries but showed physical prowess inside and on the glass. Leading rebounder Jada Crawshaw is back for her sophomore season after averaging 5.1 rebounds per game as a freshman. The Australian played in every game for the Beach in her debut season, earning a spot on the Big West All-Freshman Team.
Long Beach is also hoping to have redshirt sophomore Kennan Ka close to full strength this season. Ka suffered a season-ending injury just three minutes into the season opener, which was a crushing early blow for the Beach. Her versatility and experience would be a real lift in the year ahead as she works her way back to 100 percent.
As far as newcomers, 6-foot-1 grad transfer Rachel Loobie will step right into the rotation in the frontcourt. She played two years at Central Michigan then two more at Wright State, where she was the leading rebounder for the Raiders with 6.8 boards per night to go along with 8.8 points per game.
“She’s going to be impactful with her minutes,” Wright said of Loobie. “She understands what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, and she’s a basketball player; so it fits right into our style.”
There are six true freshmen joining the roster in 2024-25, including 6-foot-2 guard Mykelle Richards out of Etiwanda High School. Her Etiwanda team was one of the best in the nation while winning the CIF State Open Division Championship, and Wright describes her as a “freakishly good athlete.”
Athleticism is certainly a key for Wright’s uptempo system, and that appears to be a strength for the Beach as they look to outrun and outscore their opponents.
“I think it’s a system that you can kind of flow into easily, especially because we have a lot of athletic girls who get out and run,” Tucker explained. “Go do your thing, but still be under control. So I think we’re still very athletic and can really just go out and play.”
The Beach will open their season with an exhibition against Cal State LA on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at Walter Pyramid at 6 p.m., then get the regular season started on Saturday at 2 p.m. against William & Mary. The marquee home game on the schedule is Dec. 14 when UCLA will visit Long Beach.
LBSU was picked to finish fourth in this year’s Big West Preseason Coaches Poll, after tying for seventh place a season ago. That came as a surprise to Wright, who is not worried about predictions or expectations, only about the day-to-day process, which will hopefully result in more wins.
“I have no idea why we were picked preseason fourth. I have no idea,” Wright stated. “We haven’t proven anything. That’s what I keep telling them. One of our slogans is, be more than four. Can you walk in every day and be more than what you did the day before? We’re focused on just winning each possession, winning each day, and giving their best. At the end of the day, the winning will take care of itself as long as we’re doing that.”
