After a redshirt season rehabbing an ankle injury in 2024-25, 6-3 forward Lauren Whittaker of Canterbury, New Zealand, immediately made her presence known throughout college basketball in the States. Now she looks to surpass the great Yvonne Ejim in multiple program records during her career with the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
The 2025-26 West Coast Conference Player of the Year and one of the nation’s top freshmen felt immediately comfortable in coach Lisa Fortier’s system, breaking a single-season school record for the most rebounds at 348. Whittaker realized early on the importance of skill development and the success that the Gonzaga program sets its athletes. As long as you’re willing to put in the work.
“I think at Gonzaga, we play predominantly with the frontcourt. They do a good job at incorporating us, using us and using our different skill sets in order to be successful. The teammates that have come before me, like Yvonne Ejim, being able to not only room with her and live with her,and see how she operates as an exceptional athlete. Also just seeing her day in, day out on the court. How she operates within that and just that h-gh-level that you have to be at in order to compete.”
Summer practices have been underway in the Lilac City for a bit now. Whittaker and her teammates have been taking full advantage of the new Sabonis Family Strength and Conditioning Center in the Volkar Center. When reflecting on the recent ceremony for the new facility, she praised Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis for his generosity.
“It was so awesome to be able to be a part of that. He really embodies what it is to be a Zag. Looking up to him as a role model and what he encapsulates of what a Zag is. A very humble guy and very family-oriented. It was really cool to hear from him, see him give back to Gonzaga, and see how much this program helped elevate him to the next level. He’s had such a successful career already and will continue to do so. His generosity just shows how much this place has meaning to people and that it’s more than just a school. It’s really a home for people for four years. For him, two years, but the fact that he was able to feel so connected in that short time just speaks volumes.”
The Gonzaga women have retained a wealth of experience through the offseason, only taking a slight hit with incoming sophomore guard Paige Lofing transferring to the Big Sky Conference’s Montana Grizzlies and guard Ines Bettencourt graduating.
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The backcourt leader, junior guard Allie Turner, constructed a strong relationship with Whittaker this past season. The tandem is looking to build off its West Coast Conference Tournament title and NCAA Tournament bid.
“I think that combination worked really well last year, and I’m excited to see how it continues to grow this year. She’s a great point guard within herself and really a deadly shooter on the three-point line. That definitely helps my game because they have to be willing to guard her out there. I think she’s improved a lot already this year. I’m excited to see what we can do together and how we can lead the team.”
The new faces on the squad through the transfer portal, Denver Pioneers junior guard Jocelyn Medina and Rider Broncs sophomore guard Emmy Roach, are already making themselves at home in Spokane, Washington, according to Whittaker. The same goes for the lone recruit out of the 2026 high school class, Abby Lusk from Pocatello, Idaho.
“I think their willingness to compete is really positive for us. We’ve played a lot of pickup already, and all of them are eager to just get at it, not very scared. Also their willingness to learn. Coming from other programs, obviously Gonzaga does it a little bit different. Being open to that knowledge and development early on is going to be great for us. They’re great culture people, great people just in general. That’s what Gonzaga normally recruits, which is very helpful team-wise in getting along.“
“It’s kind of new for us only to have three new players in the mix. Last year, we had around eight, and summer workouts looked a lot different in terms of just getting people up to speed and what Gonzaga basketball looks like. This year, I think it has got to be a little bit more fine-tuning, which is really exciting because I think we can be really good. We’ve had a lot of returners stay, and it’s pretty much the same team as last year. I think just elevating to that next level, both physically, mentally, and skills-wise, is what the goal is for us.”
The Zags are now preparing for a new slate of opponents in the Pac-12 Conference, but some of them they’re already familiar with, like the Colorado State Rams (70-66 loss on Nov. 13, 2025, at the McCarthey Athletic Center), and of course, both the Washington State Cougars and budding rival Oregon State Beavers.
“A few new faces with Texas State, San Diego State. Really, really excited about those ones. Visiting new places, but also new teams with new structures, so I think this will be a good challenge for us to see how we can adapt. Really excited about the Pac-12.”
No Gonzaga women’s basketball player had a more significant first season than Whittaker put together in this past campaign. The walking double-double machine looks to continue her dominance in her redshirt sophomore season in the newly revamped Pac-12.
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Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
