A new chapter began Wednesday for the University of Hawaiʻi women’s basketball team, as the Rainbow Wahine held their first full practice of their final season in the Big West Conference.
Led by 14th-year head coach Laura Beeman, Hawaiʻi enters 2025-26 looking to defend back-to-back Big West regular season titles. The Wahine return seven players from last year’s squad that went 22-10 and earned a second straight berth in the WBIT postseason. Eight newcomers round out the 15-player roster.
Anchoring the group are All-Big West post players Imani Perez and Ritorya Tamilo, who say the team is motivated to raise the program’s standard.
“It’s actually really exciting,” Perez said. “I feel like now we have a higher standard, and we can show people what we’re capable of as a new group.”
Tamilo echoed that sentiment. “We weren’t happy with where we ended off last season, so the newcomers and freshmen are just as determined to help us reach that goal,” she said. “We’re hungry for it this year.”
Beeman said this year’s team will play a more up-tempo style.
“I think we’re going to play really exciting basketball,” Beeman said. “We’re going to pick up our pace, score more points, and score on the defensive side of the ball as well. With our length, we’re going to get after some things differently, but how hard we play, that will be the same.”
Freshman guards Bailey Flavell of New Zealand and Teyahna Bond of Australia headline the newcomers.
The Rainbow Wahine open their season with seven straight home games, starting Nov. 4 against Portland State.
For a detailed look at the complete 2025-26 Rainbow Wahine roster, click here.