As the weather gets colder and the rain starts to roll in through the Pacific Northwest, basketball season has nearly arrived in Eugene.
The Oregon women’s basketball team, which made the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament a year ago and brings back nine returners from that squad, has high hopes for its 2025-26 campaign.
Advertisement
Ahead of the Oct. 30 exhibition against Western Oregon at Matthew Knight Arena, coach Kelly Graves and all 14 players on the Ducks’ roster spoke with local reporters at UO’s media day Oct. 23. Here’s what Graves and the Ducks said about their closed scrimmage vs. Seattle University, their growth in the frontcourt and how the newcomers are faring so far this fall.
Kelly Graves, Oregon women’s basketball break down closed scrimmage with Seattle
The Ducks held a closed doors scrimmage with Seattle last weekend before an open-doors exhibition against Western Oregon Oct. 30 at Matthew Knight Arena.
Though only a handful of stats were made available and a final score wasn’t released, Graves revealed it was “pretty ugly” for Seattle.
Advertisement
“Good on our side,” Graves said. “We got a lot of production from a lot of different players. That’s been our M.O. all fall. We’ve had a bunch of different players playing well, shooting it well.”
Oregon coach Kelly Graves talks to his players during the Oct. 15 practice at Matthew Knight Arena. The Ducks will have a new, faster style of play this season.
Graves revealed the Ducks shot 19 for 25 from 3-point range and had 19 steals, with 13 of those resulting in baskets on the other end. Oregon’s social media listed some standouts being Fresno State transfer Mia Jacobs (19 points, 10 rebounds), UCLA transfer Avary Cain (16 points), Sarah Rambus (16 points, three rebounds) and true freshman Janiyah Williams (15 points, four made 3s).
Sophomore Ehis Etute had 10 points and two boards, senior guard Elisa Mevius had nine points, eight assists and four steals, Washington State transfer Astera Tuhina had eight points and nine assists and sophomore Katie Fiso had six points and six assists.
Advertisement
Graves said he’s figured out four of the five spots in his starting lineup ahead of the Ducks’ official debut, Nov. 3 at home against West Georgia.
“The cream is starting to rise, though,” Graves said. “We have some players that are clearly winning some spots and we’re honing in on that starting five … There’s still a battle for one of the positions, but I don’t think that’s going to matter. I think we’re nine or 10 deep where in crunch time we feel good about any of those players out on the court.”
Kelly Graves says Oregon women’s basketball’s frontcourt has surprised him
With 6-foot-8 center Phillipina Kyei graduated, the Ducks have shifted their style with a smaller all-around roster to a more up-tempo system. Though Graves was confident in his depth at guard, he admitted he had questions about his frontcourt heading into fall practice.
Advertisement
Those questions have been answered, the coach said.
“Sarah Rambus has had an awesome fall. I think right now she’s winning that inside spot for us,” Graves said. “Mia Jacobs has been terrific … We’re able to do more things, our posts can run the floor, which makes them a threat.”
Oregon forward Sarah Rambus is expected to have a larger role this season with the graduation of Phillipina Kyei.
Rambus, a junior who has mostly played in a reserve role behind Kyei, is expected to start after averaging just 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per game over the first two seasons of her college career. She says Oregon’s new style of play has been rejuvenating as she looks to hold on to an opportunity for more playing time.
Advertisement
“We’re running out really fast so I got my conditioning up,” Rambus said. “It’s being able to sprint the floor, and my guards get it to me mostly every time. They reward me, so I like that … We work together really good, a lot of touches, everybody’s getting the ball and everybody’s scoring. I like that, too.”
Oregon women’s basketball will feature newcomers Mia Jacobs, Avary Cain as well as freshman Janiyah Williams
Oregon isn’t breaking in nearly as many new players as it did a year ago, with nine returning. Still, Jacobs and Cain are expected to play heavy minutes for the Ducks.
Graves said Jacobs has “maybe” been the Ducks’ best overall player so far this fall after averaging 18.3 points and 10 rebounds per game for Fresno State last season. Cain, a prized recruit who played sparingly for a deep UCLA squad a year ago, has also been productive in practice so far.
Advertisement
“My confidence is starting to come back a little more,” Cain said. “Especially after that scrimmage. I think I just get my confidence from my teammates and my coaches always building me up.”
Oregon guard Janiyah Williams, right, looks for a path around guard Sofia Bell during the Oct. 15 practice at Matthew Knight Arena. Williams said she’s been doing “a lot of learning” as a freshman.
Tuhina is expected to play often as well and provide depth at point guard.
Then there’s Oregon’s two-freshman 2025 recruiting class, which features Clackamas guard Sara Barhoum and four-star guard Janiyah Williams from Oklahoma.
Barhoum, Oregon’s all-time leading in 3-point makes as a high schooler, has been battling an illness and did not play in the Ducks’ scrimmage last weekend. She has just gotten into the mix.
Advertisement
“It’s been pretty difficult mentally but I have really great teammates and coaches that are around me and supporting me through everything,” Barhoum said.
Williams also says the transition from high school to college has not been easy, though she’s been full healthy. The four-star guard went a perfect 4 for 4 from 3-point range in Oregon’s scrimmage and could carve out a role for herself during the nonconference season if she continues to shoot the ball well as a freshman.
“It’s been difficult, it’s a lot of learning,” Williams said. “It’s way quicker than high school. So it’s been a big adjustment, but I just try to come and contribute any way that I can.”
Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football and women’s basketball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com and you can follow him on Bluesky and X.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon women’s basketball talks new roster, closed scrimmage
