Washington has done what good teams are supposed to do through the first week of the season: win, defend, and leave room for improvement.
The Washington Huskies women’s basketball program enters Thursday night’s matchup against Cal State Bakersfield (CSUB) with a 2-0 record, averaging 77.0 points per game while holding opponents to 58.5. Those raw numbers are impressive on their own, but the most encouraging sign for the Dawgs may be that the offense has not yet hit its stride.
Despite shooting 36.0% from the field and 35.1% on two-point attempts through two games, the Huskies are still producing at a high level offensively. Much of that success has come from strong ball movement and unselfish play. Washington is assisting on 56.9% of its made baskets and shooting 37.3% from beyond the arc, indicators that quality shots are being created even if not all of them are falling yet.
Defensively, the Huskies have looked every bit like the aggressive, disruptive group Tina Langley envisioned entering the season. Washington is averaging 11.5 steals and 5.5 blocks per game, consistently turning defensive stops into transition opportunities. That activity has fueled a +18.5 scoring margin and helped Washington control stretches of both victories.
Thursday presents another opportunity to sharpen those habits against a Cal State Bakersfield team that enters Seattle at 1-0 but is still in the early stages of a massive rebuild.
After finishing 7-23 and 2-18 in Big West play a season ago, the Roadrunners underwent one of the most dramatic offseasons in the country. Every player from last year’s roster departed, leaving interim head coach Ray Alvarado the task of constructing an entirely new team and identity. While long-term development remains the priority, Bakersfield showed encouraging signs in its season opener, scoring 75 points, allowing just 46, and dominating the glass with 44 rebounds.
The Roadrunners also generated 16 steals, suggesting they want to make life uncomfortable for opponents. Washington should expect an energetic effort from a team eager to prove itself against a nationally ranked opponent.
Washington’s Pressure Defense vs. Bakersfield’s Ball Security
Washington’s defense has been relentless through its first two games. The Huskies are averaging 11.5 steals and 5.5 blocks per game, using active hands, rim protection, and ball pressure to create extra possessions and spark offensive runs.
That style could pose problems for a Cal State Bakersfield team still building chemistry with an entirely new roster.
The Roadrunners committed 21 turnovers in their season opener and posted a 0.62 assist-to-turnover ratio, numbers that reflect both the growing pains of a newly assembled team and an area Washington will look to exploit. If the Huskies can speed up Bakersfield’s decision-making and force live-ball turnovers, they should be able to generate easy transition scoring opportunities.
However, this matchup isn’t entirely one-sided.
Bakersfield forced 16 steals in its opener and has already shown a willingness to pressure opposing ball handlers. That should be a point of emphasis for Washington, which is averaging 17 turnovers per game through its first two contests. The Huskies have moved the ball well and assisted on nearly 57% of their made baskets, but protecting possessions remains an area for improvement.
Ultimately, the turnover battle could determine how competitive this game becomes. If Washington’s pressure defense consistently disrupts Bakersfield’s offense, the Huskies should be able to control the tempo. If the Roadrunners protect the basketball and force Washington into mistakes of its own, they could keep the game in the halfcourt and make things far more interesting than expected.
Flexible Frontcourt Presents a Different Test for Washington
Although Cal State Bakersfield’s roster is entirely new, the Roadrunners’ frontcourt has quickly emerged as one of the most intriguing pieces of head coach Ray Alvarado’s rebuilding project.
Rather than relying on multiple true post players, Alvarado asks his forwards to function as versatile interchangeable pieces capable of handling the ball, attacking the basket, defending in space, and creating offense from multiple spots on the floor.
The early numbers reflect that philosophy.
Mydrea Moore, a 6’0″ forward,has been one of Bakersfield’s most productive frontcourt players, averaging 13.0 points, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Her sister, 6’0″ forward Dresha Moore, has added 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals while giving the Roadrunners another athletic, downhill attacker.
Freshman Elizabeth Johnson, a 6’1″ forward, has made an immediate impact, averaging 14.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game. Her work on the glass has helped fuel Bakersfield’s 44.0 rebounds per game through its first contest. Meanwhile, 6′ 3″ Sofia Ahmed provides a more traditional interior presence with her rim protection and ability to run the floor.
The challenge for Washington is that defending Bakersfield’s frontcourt won’t simply be about protecting the paint. The Roadrunners want their forwards moving around the floor, creating mismatches, and forcing defenses to communicate.
The good news for the Huskies? Washington’s defensive calling card is smart defensive rotation based on excellent communication. Meanwhile, UW’s frontcourt is still a deeper and more talented unit than Bakersfield’s — but they will still need to prove it on Thursday.
Washington super sophomore Brynn McGaughy enters the matchup as one of the rising stars in the Big Ten after earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors last season. The 6-foot-3 forward has already opened this season averaging a double-double with 12.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Alongside her is 6-foot-6 NC State junior transfer Tilda Trygger, one of Washington’s biggest offseason additions. The former NC State standout arrived in Seattle after averaging 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in the ACC while earning recognition on the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year watch list.
Add 6-foot-3 Kentucky sophomore transfer K.K. (Kaelyn) Carroll to the mix (former 5-star recruit/McDonald’s All-American), and Washington suddenly has length, athleticism, and versatility all across the frontcourt. UDUBWBB.com identified Carroll as a key versatile piece of the Huskies’ 2026-27 rotation, giving Washington multiple lineup options against bigger or smaller opponents.
That’s what makes this an intriguing matchup.
Agains the Huskies, Bakersfield’s forwards will face a significant step up in size, athleticism, and overall talent versus the Huskies. The Roadrunners want to stretch defenses and create advantages through versatility. Washington can counter with a frontcourt that is equally versatile while bringing far more length and high-major experience to the floor.
If McGaughy and Trygger, can control the glass (they both average 10.5 rebounds)
and force Bakersfield into difficult looks around the rim, the Huskies should be able to turn rebounds into transition opportunities and dictate the pace of the game.
The matchup between Bakersfield’s position-less frontcourt and Washington’s length, athleticism, and rim protection could play a major role in determining whether the Roadrunners can remain competitive deep into Thursday’s game.
Where is CSUB’s Hunter Hudson?
Hunter Hudson, a 5’11” senior forward and Cal Poly Pomona transfer, is one of the most accomplished newcomers on Bakersfield’s roster. After averaging 7.2 points and 8.7 rebounds last season at the Division II level, Hudson is expected to be a key contributor during the Roadrunners’ rebuild. Hudson’s physicality on the glass could be critical against Washington’s frontcourt — except she did not play in the Roadrunners only game this season. Her whereabouts remain a mystery at the time of publication, so we shall see if she reappears versus the Huskies.
Our UW WBB Player to Watch Most – Tilda Trygger
Although we are sure the UW coaches are not panicking (and neither is Tilda), we are admittedly a little antsy waiting for Trygger to have a breakout game offensively for the Dawgs. So far, the Huskies have not yet scratched the surface of Tilda’s offensive capabilities.
With a looming November 27th matchup versus Oklahoma State’s Audi Crooks in about two weeks (!), the Huskies will need an “unlocked” Trygger and Brynn McGaughy to neutralize the Cowgirls All-American big in that contest.
Building up Trygger for that impending matchup could start here. We would like to see Trygger with at least one three-point attempt, as well as running high post actions with Sellers mixed with some elbow post-ups. Essentially, Tilda Trygger can do everything that Brynn McGaughy does, so the Huskies have two interchangeable bigs wreaking havoc from various attack points.
Keys to a Washington Victory
To improve to 3-0, Washington should focus on three areas:
(1) Ramp up the defensive pressure and force 20-plus turnovers.
The Huskies are averaging 11.5 steals and 5.5 blocks per game, while Cal State Bakersfield committed 21 turnovers in its season opener. Washington’s length and athleticism should allow it to disrupt passing lanes, speed up Bakersfield’s decision-making, and generate transition opportunities.
(2) Win the battle on the glass, especially against Bakersfield’s versatile frontcourt.
The Roadrunners pulled down 44 rebounds and 16 offensive boards in their opener, led by the active play of Elizabeth Johnson and the Moore sisters. Washington’s frontcourt trio of Brynn McGaughy, Tilda Trygger, and K.K. Carroll must limit second-chance opportunities and force Bakersfield to score against a set defense.
(3) Value the basketball and make Bakersfield defend in the halfcourt.
The Roadrunners generated 16 steals in their first game and will look to create offense through defensive pressure. Washington is averaging 17 turnovers per game, a number the Huskies would like to reduce. Clean possessions and sharp ball movement should allow Washington to take advantage of its significant edge in talent, size, and offensive firepower.
Simply put, this game should be dictated by Washington’s defense. If the Huskies control the boards, force turnovers, and avoid giving Bakersfield easy transition opportunities, they should be able to wear down a rebuilding Roadrunner squad over the course of 40 minutes.
Cal State Bakersfield has shown toughness and energy early in the season, but Thursday marks a substantial step up in competition. Washington enters with advantages in size, depth, experience, and continuity. If the Huskies bring a physical Big Ten mentality from the opening tip, they should be in control for most of the evening.
Projected Margin: Washington by 20 points.
Huskies Win Probability: 95%
GO DAWGS!
