ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ is back in postseason play for the fifth consecutive season.
For the first time it’s the WBIT, which is in its second year as the secondary NCAA-sponsored tournament.
That’s a mouthful, but all you really have to remember is that the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ are in the next top 32 teams and a 2-seed as they host NAU in the first round on Thursday at 6 p.m. at McKale Center.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ (19-13) has had plenty of memorable moments on the road to the postseason.
Here are five individual and team top performances of the season for the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥.
Best team effort
This is one is obvious — taking down No. 16 West Virginia, 77-62, at McKale Center on Jan. 25.
After losing a close one to Baylor in overtime, 81-76, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ dropped two more games to Iowa State and No. 11 Kansas State after getting off to a slow start. In a hotel conference room in Kansas, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ coach Adia Barnes challenged her guards to step up. They responded as the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ collected three consecutive wins over Kansas, Cincinnati and finally upsetting West Virginia.
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ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ guard Paulina Paris (23) bursts between guard Sydney Shaw (5), left, and West Virginia guard Sydney Woodley (2) to swipe the ball and trigger a Wildcat fast break in the second quarter of their Big 12 game in Tucson on Jan. 25, 2025.
It was a total team effort on both ends of the floor – shooting 49% from the field with four ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ in double figures.
Breya Cunningham scored 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds in 32 minutes of action. She also had three blocks and three steals. Paulina Paris chipped in 16 points and five assists. Jada Williams had 13 points, four assists and a pair of steals. Skylar Jones scored 16 points in 20 minutes of action and picked three steals.
Collectively, the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ forced 21 turnovers and scored 19 points off them. The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ disrupted on defense, not allowing the Mountaineers to get into any offensive rhythm — making only 1 of 12 attempts from long range.
Isis Beh’s Big 12 action
It’s hard to limit Isis Beh to just one game, as she has been the most consistent Wildcat this season.
There’s the first matchup against ASU at McKale Center on Feb. 8 where she dished five assists. And the final game of the regular season at ASU on March 1, putting up a stat line of 15 points — 2 of 3 from long range — three blocks and eight rebounds.
The Feb. 12 Oklahoma State game where she scored 24 points. Against Houston on Feb. 22, she was one rebound shy of a double-double, putting up 18 points and nine rebounds.
It’s not only the stats that stand out with Beh’s performance. It’s how she traps on defense — especially on an inbounds play, forcing turnovers. It’s how she slips naturally between two positions — the four and the five — when Cunningham is out and she has to switch assignments. It’s how she’s always in the right position at the right time and leaves everything out on the floor.
For Beh, it’s truly been her entire Big 12 play performance.
Jones out of her slump
Jones was struggling this season, and it was in the second half of the Cincinnati game on Jan. 22 when she took over and scored 16 points (6 of 8) in 17 minutes of action. She added five rebounds and two assists.
Jones said that Barnes lit a fire under her, and when she was on the bench, she saw where she could make a difference and let the game come to her instead of forcing shots.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ guard Skylar Jones gets to bang the drum for the first time after coming off the bench to score 16 points in 16 minutes, all in the second half, to help the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ fend off Cincinnati 72-62 in a Big 12 game at McKale Center Jan. 22, 2025.
Jones also started staying on balance when shooting — allowing her to be more efficient and take better shots. She also used her length on defense to narrow the passing lanes and slow down her opponents.
With each ensuing game, Jones gained more confidence and was stronger mentally. This game was the catalyst of what was to come. Over the next 11 games, she would score in double figures seven times.
Jones even scored the game-winner on a free throw in overtime against Houston. Jones put up 16 points in that one, going a perfect 8 for 8 at the free-throw line. She also had five steals and three assists.
Williams and Cunningham
When Williams and Cunningham are both feeling it, the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ seem unbeatable.
This was on display in the fourth quarter of the first ASU matchup at McKale Center – just when the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ needed it. The Sun Devils came back to tie the game at 44-44 when this sophomore duo took over.
First, it was a 3 from Williams, followed by a layup for Cunningham. Then, a little switcheroo as it was the shorter Williams who blocked a shot and the ball ended up in Cunningham’s hands. On the other end of the court, we were reminded of what it’s like when these two are in sync — it’s like a simple game of pitch and catch — Williams to Cunningham.
Williams has an uncanny sense of knowing when Cunningham will be open, and it’s usually before the big even knows the ball is headed her way. But Cunningham has learned through the years to be ready for anything from Williams.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ forward Breya Cunningham absorbs the foul from ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ State center Nevaeh Parkinson on a shot in their Big 12 game in Tucson on Feb. 8, 2025.
The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ took a 51-44 lead and didn’t relinquish it the rest of the way.
Oh yeah, Williams was the player of the game with 18 points, three assists, a pair of steals, one block and seven rebounds. Cunningham finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, one block and one assist.
Swann finding her groove
When you are a shooter who won a handful of Big 12 honors during the season plus made your way onto the league’s Freshman team, there are a lot of moments.
One of the biggest came against rival ASU in Tempe, when she knocked down an efficient 6 of 8 from long range for 18 points, pulled down five defensive rebounds and dished two assists in 29 minutes of action.
This one has an edge over the others — including a handful where she provided a spark off the bench or hit a halfcourt buzzer shot at halftime — because it’s not just the shooting, Swann contributed more in other ways.
It shows a growth in her overall game and that she has totally moved past the concussion she suffered in the Cincinnati game.