STRONG BONDS Despite their tourney loss, the Utes form strong friendships and create team unity

At the beginning of the season, the Utes’ goal was to make the NCAA Tournament. Although they didn’t accomplish that feat, the team bonded and stuck together, culminating in a loss in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament final to Drexel.
After sprinting out to a 9-1 start, the Utes struggled in January when the Pac-12 season started. They lost eight of nine games and were sitting on a 10-9 record, but they didn’t lose faith. They won 13 of their last 18 games, including a run through the WNIT.
Playing through that stretch taught head coach Anthony Levrets a lot about his players.
“You never know how tough a group is until they go through adversity,” Levrets said. “We found out that they are incredibly resilient. It was a hard year. We went through a lot of stuff. Their resiliency was the thing I learned most about.”
The team dealt with a six-game losing streak, an injury that sidelined star forward Taryn Wicijowski halfway through the year and Paige Crozon was diagnosed with a concussion before the WNIT. These setbacks only made the Utes’ end run more valuable.
“It’s been fun,” said freshman guard Danielle Rodriguez. “It’s been crazy, and it’s been hard at times. We overcame a lot of obstacles, especially the last couple weeks having to play so many away games.”
During their two-week postseason run, the Utes won four games on the road and traveled across the country from California to Kansas and finally to Philadelphia. Their season would come to an end in the City of Brotherly Love, with a heartbreaking 46-43 loss to Drexel in the WNIT championship game. Utah finished with a 23-14 record — seven more wins than last season.
“I think our season overall was great,” Rodriguez said. “We finished strong. Maybe not on a win like most people wanted to, but we had a great season.”
Michelle Plouffe was named an All-American honorable mention, and she made the All-Pac-12 team. She led the team in both scoring and rebounding, going for 17.2 points per game and grabbing more than nine boards. Wicijowski and Iwalani Rodrigues were the other Utes to score in double-figures. Wicijowski and Rodrigues were named All-Pac-12 honorable mentions.
Rodriguez, who was one of the few freshmen in the country who started at point guard, thought the team chemistry improved as the year went on, and she has found a new family in Salt Lake City.

“We bonded so much,” Rodriguez said. “Even in preseason, I thought we were a close team. We were traveling together 24/7. We were on planes together, bus rides and we never got tired of each other. During the game is when you grow the most. Pulling out close games really bonded our team together.”
The Utes played two overtime games in the WNIT against Pacific and Kansas State. The friendships that developed on the team were evident in the postgame celebrations at the end of those victories. Players hugged one another, and high fives went all around.
“The thing that made the year special was the kids,” Levrets said. “They’re fun to be around, they’re fun to coach and they love each other.”
Only three days after the season ended, Rodriguez is already thinking ahead.
“I’m very excited for next season,” Rodriguez said. “People have told me that freshman year is always the hardest, and you’re just trying to keep your head above water. Going into next year, I know what I need to work on and what I need to get better at.”