CEDAR CITY, Utah -- Basketball season is just around the corner, and with the return of action on the hardwood, the Southern Utah Women's Basketball team will be making its return to the Big Sky Conference after a four-year absence. The Big Sky homecoming that awaits the Thunderbirds brings new challenges and new opportunities for a team that has sky-high expectations of itself as it looks to build off the success it found in the Western Athletic Conference over the last four seasons.

When asked about the team's expectations, Head Coach Tracy Mason said:

"With the returners we have coming back, our goal is to be fighting for a Big Sky championship this season. Obviously, it's going to take a lot of work, this is a great conference with some really well coached teams. I think we have an extremely competitive mindset right now. They get after it everyday and I think they understand the effort it's going to take to be successful in the Big Sky."

Life in the Big Sky for the Thunderbirds will certainly be made easier by the return of four starters from last year's squad, including two at the guard position.

Junior Kortney Doman started all 32 games last year for Southern Utah and played an incredible 32 minutes per game, second only to Sierra Chambers. A true defensive cornerstone for the Thunderbirds, Doman led the team in blocks and steals while averaging six points and six rebounds per game.

Devyn Kiernan comes into her sophomore year after starting all 32 games for the Thunderbirds as a freshman and playing just over 26 minutes a game. In her first season at the Division I level, Kiernan averaged just over seven points per game and established herself as an outside scoring threat, finishing third on the team in three-point field goal percentage at .383.

Both players to finish ahead of Kiernan in three-point field goal percentage also return to Cedar City this year as Morgan Trigueiro and Charli Kay are each set for their senior seasons as Thunderbirds. Trigueiro joined Southern Utah as a transfer last season and immediately made a name for herself, playing in 31 of 32 games for the Thunderbirds and shooting a lethal .448 from deep. Meanwhile, Kay played in 18 games for Southern Utah and finished with a field goal percentage of .500 while also shooting .400 from three-point range.

Vallory Kuelker returns for her sophomore season with the Thunderbirds after a freshman campaign that saw her appear in 10 games for Southern Utah. After averaging roughly six minutes per game in her appearances for the Thunderbirds, Kuelker will be looking to increase her role with the team as she grows in her second year in Cedar City.

The lone starter from last season to not return was Sierra Chambers, and Southern Utah has a big challenge in replacing her contributions as she led the team in minutes played, scoring, and assists. Undaunted by the challenge of filling such big shoes, several guards have stepped up in the offseason and impressed Coach Mason in her search for her fifth starter.

Bella Hasan played in all 32 games last year for Coach Mason, coming off the bench in each one, and only reached 15 minutes of game time in five of those contests, but a strong offseason has the Junior positioned to take on a bigger role for the Thunderbirds in the coming campaign. "Bella had a really good summer." Coach Mason said of her point guard, "She is a remarkable athlete. Offensively, she can do some really great things, and she cares about defending. She's quick, she's athletic and she's a great rebounder."

Melicia Nelson joined the Thunderbirds as a junior college transfer from Pima Community College in Arizona where she won a NJCAA Division II National Championship with the Aztecs in 2026. Nelson brings a calm presence to the team as she looks to make the smartest play possible every time down the court, and Coach Mason believes Nelson will be a big part of the team's success as she continues to adjust to play in Cedar City.

Amiah Lewis is one of two freshmen to join the Thunderbirds in 2026, and the Mater Dei High School product has already impressed the coaching staff with her play and maturity. "She's going to be on the floor." Coach Mason said of Lewis, "She plays within her role and knows what she has to do, and athletically her ceiling is so high."

2026-27 is going to be an important year for Southern Utah Women's Basketball as the coaches and players all have sky-high expectations for the coming campaign. With an impressive blend of returning depth and new talent, the guards for the Thunderbirds are poised to make an impact on the court and do their part to achieve the team's goals.

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Single-game and season tickets for the upcoming Southern Utah Women's Basketball season are now available. For more information and to purchase tickets for SUU Women's Basketball, visit tbirdtickets.com.