The 2020–21 BYU Cougars women's basketball team represented Brigham Young University during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. It was head coach Jeff Judkins's twentieth season at BYU. The Cougars, members of the West Coast Conference, played their home games at the Marriott Center.
Before the season
Departures Name Number Pos. Height Year Hometown Notes Brenna Chase Drollinger 1 G 5'8 Senior Thornton, Colorado Graduated Shalae Salmon 3 F 6'3 Senior Porirua, New Zealand Graduated Babalu Ugwu 14 F 6'0" Sophomore Judai, Sao Paulo, Brazil Transferred to Utah Valley Khaedin Taito 21 G 5'11" Senior Hastings, New Zealand Graduated Jasmine Moody 33 F 6'2 RS Senior Honolulu, Hawaii Graduated
Newcomers Name Number Pos. Height Year Hometown Notes Megan Stevenson 1 F 6'0 Freshman Purcellville, Virginia Kate Vorwaller 3 G 5'9 Freshman Salt Lake City, Utah Tegan Graham 10 G 6'0 Graduate Wellington, New Zealand Transferred from Colgate Kayla Belles-Lee 42 F 6'3" Junior Ithaca, Michigan Transferred from Michigan State
2020–21 media
BYU Sports Media
All Cougars home games are being shown on BYUtv or the BYUtv App. Conference road games are being shown on WCC Network. All remaining non-conference road games are also being streamed. Streaming partners for those games can be found on the schedule.
Roster
Schedule
!colspan=8 style=| Non-conference regular season
!colspan=8 style=| WCC regular season
!colspan=8 style=| WCC Tournament
!colspan=8 style=| NCAA tournament
Conference games at Portland and home vs. San Diego were postponed by COVID-19 protocols and were not able to be rescheduled before the WCC Tournament. Non-conference games against Dixie State, Boise State, and Utah Valley were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile UT Martin was replaced by Washington for the second South Point Shootout game. Finally Southern Utah was added to the schedule after both teams had their games against Utah Valley canceled by the pandemic protocols. The addition of Southern Utah allowed BYU to play against former Cougar Liz Graves in her final season. Graves had spent her first two seasons at BYU.
Game summaries
LSU Broadcasters: Garrett Walvoord Series History: First Meeting Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson LSU: Awa Trasi, Jailin Cherry, Khayla Pointer, Karli Seay, Faustine Aifuwa
Washington Broadcasters: Gary Hill Jr. Series History: Washington leads series 7–5 Starting Lineups: Washington: Quay Miller, Tameiya Sadler, Jayda Noble, Haley Van Dyke, Khayla Rooks BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
Utah State Broadcasters: Jaden Johnson Series History: BYU leads series 37–4 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson Utah State: Faith Brantley, Kama Kamakawiwo'ole, Meagan Mendazona, Jessica Chatman, Emmie Harris
Montana State Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski & Kiki Solano Series History: BYU leads series 13–4 Starting Lineups: Montana State: Darian White, Tori Martell, Kola Bad Bear, Katelynn Limardo, Madison Jackson BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
Southern Utah Broadcasters: Kylee Young & Joshua Price Series History: BYU leads series 18–4 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson Southern Utah: Margarita Satini, Liz Graves, Cherita Daugherty, Madelyn Eaton, Darri Frandsen
San Francisco Broadcasters: Spencer Linton & Kristen Kozlowski Series History: BYU leads series 20–6 Starting Lineups: San Francisco: Amalie Langer, Lucie Hoskova, Joanna Krimili, Lucija Kostic, Abby Rathbun BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
Santa Clara Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski & Jason Shepherd Series History: BYU leads series 19–2 Starting Lineups: Santa Clara: Lexie Pritchard, Ashlee Maldonado, Ashlyn Herlihy, Lindsey VanAllen, Danja Stafford BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
San Diego Broadcasters: Seth Smith Series History: BYU leads series 13–7 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson San Diego: Steph Gorman, Myah Pace, Jordyn Edwards, Kendall Bird, Sydney Hunter
Loyola Marymount Broadcasters: Brendan Craig & Gary Craig Series History: BYU leads series 17–2 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson Loyola Marymount: Ciera Ellington, Chelsey Gipson, Ariel Johnson, Khari Clark, Meghan Mandel
Saint Mary's Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski, & Kiki Solano Series History: BYU leads series 11–10 Starting Lineups: Saint Mary's: Taycee Wedin, Madeline Holland, Tayla Dalton, Jade Kirisome, Brianna Simonich BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
Pacific Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski & Jason Shepherd Series History: BYU leads series 15–4 Starting Lineups: Pacific: Brooklyn McDavid, Erica Adams, Valerie Higgins, Lianna Tillman, Sam Ashby BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
Gonzaga Broadcasters: Rob Jesselson, Stephanie Hawk-Freeman, & Joe McHale Series History: Gonzaga leads series 17–12 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson Gonzaga: Jenn Wirth, LeeAnne Wirth, Kayleigh Truong, Cierra Walker, Jill Townsend
Pepperdine Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski & Kiki Solano Series History: BYU leads series 22–3 Starting Lineups: Pepperdine: Malia Bambrick, Jayda Ruffus-Milner, Cheyenne Givens, Monique Andriuolo, Jayla Ruffus-Milner BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
Loyola Marymount Broadcasters: Dave McCann, Kristen Kozlowski, & Jason Shepherd Series History: BYU leads series 18–2 Starting Lineups: Loyola Marymount: Chelsey Gipson, Nicole Rodriguez, Ariel Johnson, Khari Clark, Meghan Mandel BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
Pepperdine Broadcasters: Darren Preston Series History: BYU leads series 23–3 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson Pepperdine: Malia Bambrick, Jayda Ruffus-Milner, Cheyenne Givens, Monique Andriuolo, Jayla Ruffus-Milner
Pacific Broadcasters: Don Gubbins Series History: BYU leads series 16–4 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson Pacific: Brooklyn McDavid, Erica Adams, Valerie Higgins, Lianna Tillman, Sam Ashby
Saint Mary's Broadcasters: Ben Ross Series History: BYU leads series 12–10 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson Saint Mary's: Taycee Wedin, Madeline Holland, Tayla Dalton, Jade Kirisome, Brianna Simonich
Gonzaga Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski, & Kiki Solano Series History: Gonzaga leads series 18–12 Starting Lineups: Gonzaga: Jenn Wirth, LeeAnne Wirth, Kayleigh Truong, Cierra Walker, Jill Townsend BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
Portland Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski, & Kiki Solano Series History: BYU leads series 25–5 Starting Lineups: Portland: Keeley Frawley, Emme Shearer, Haylee Andrews, Alex Fowler, Maddie Muhlheim BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
Santa Clara Broadcasters: Joe Ritzo Series History: BYU leads series 20–2 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson Santa Clara: Lexie Pritchard, Merle Wiehl, Ashlee Maldonado, Ashlyn Herlihy, Lindsey VanAllen
San Francisco Broadcasters: George Devine Series History: BYU leads series 21–6 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson San Francisco: Amalie Langer, Lucie Hoskova, Ioanna Krimili, Lucija Kostic, Abby Rathbun
WCC Semifinal: San Francisco Broadcasters: Spencer Linton & Kristen Kozlowski Series History: BYU leads series 21–7 Starting Lineups: San Francisco: Amalie Langer, Lucie Hoskova, Ioanna Krimili, Lucija Kostic, Abby Rathbun BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
WCC Championship: Gonzaga Broadcasters: Paul Sunderland & Andraya Carter (ESPNU) Greg Wrubell & Kristen Kozlowski (BYU Radio 107.9 FM) Series History: Gonzaga leads series 18–13 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson Gonzaga: Jenn Wirth, LeeAnne Wirth, Kayleigh Truong, Cierra Walker, Jill Townsend
NCAA 1st Round: Rutgers Broadcasters: Kevin Fitzgerald & Christy Thomaskutty (ESPNU) Jason Shepherd & Kristen Kozlowski (BYU Radio 107.9 FM) Series History: First Meeting Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson Rutgers: Diamond Johnson, Arella Guirantes, Mael Gilles, Tyia Singleton, Kate Martin
NCAA 2nd Round: Arizona Broadcasters: Tiffany Greene & Steffi Sorensen Jason Shepherd & Kristen Kozlowski (BYU Radio 107.9 FM) Series History: BYU leads 8–5 Starting Lineups: BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson Arizona:
Conference Honors Shaylee Gonzales, Sara Hamson, and Paisley Johnson Harding were selected to the 2020–21 All-WCC Preseason Women's Basketball Team. On November 30 Shaylee Gonzales was awarded the WCC Player of the Week. On January 18 Lauren Gustin was awarded the WCC Player of the Week.
Rankings 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings + Regular season pollsPoll Pre-Season Week2 Week3 Week4 Week5 Week6 Week7 Week8 Week9 Week10 Week11 Week12 Week13 Week14 Week15 Week16 Final AP (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (RV) (NR) (NR) Coaches (RV) No Poll Released (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) (NR) + Legend Increase in ranking Decrease in ranking No change (RV) Received votes (NR) Not ranked
References