Cal Women's Basketball Leans on Veteran Roster Ahead of ACC Season

Cal women's basketball coach Charmin Smith highlighted the team's experience advantage at the ACC media day, noting that seven returning players and four starters have accelerated the program's development compared to last season. The Bears finished 21-15 last year but return to a roster composition similar to their 2024-25 squad that went 25-9 and made the NCAA tournament. Smith emphasized that veteran leadership will help Cal win close games this season, an area where the team struggled in recent matchups.

Cal's women's basketball program is banking on continuity to improve upon last season's performance. The roster retains most of its core players from the previous year, which coach Smith believes positions the team to develop faster and avoid the early-season struggles that plagued them in conference play. Last year the Bears won only one of their first four ACC matchups before stabilizing midseason, suggesting growing pains for a relatively young squad at that time.

The returning players have identified specific areas for improvement heading into the new season. Leading scorer Lulu Twidale aims to establish consistency from the start of the year rather than requiring a mid-season adjustment period. Meanwhile, forward Gisella Maul has focused her offseason training on developing her non-dominant hand and enhancing her vocal leadership presence. These targeted improvements indicate the team's emphasis on being tournament-ready from opening night.