SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 Conference announced Monday, October 24, its 2022-23 Women's Basketball Preseason All-Pac-12 team. Washington State junior Charlisse Leger-Walker was selected to the Preseason All-Pac-12 team, while senior Bella Murekatete earned a Preseason All-Pac-12 honorable mention nod.
The 2022-23 Preseason All-Pac-12 team is voted on by media members that cover Pac-12 women's basketball. It is the second-straight year that Leger-Walker has earned a spot on the Preseason All-Pac-12 squad, while it is Murekatete's first preseason all-conference honorable mention nod.
Leger-Walker is no stranger to Pac-12 accolades either, as the guard is a two-time All-Pac-12 honoree and was the 2020-21 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. The two-time WBCA All-American honorable mention selection has been one of the most prolific scorers in the Pac-12 since her arrival in the 2020-21 season. No Pac-12 player has scored more points than Leger-Walker's 935 points over the last two seasons. In fact, her career scoring average of 17.3 points per game is the highest for a Pac-12 player coming into the season for a player that has played in 25-or-more career games. The Waikato, New Zealand native has scored double-digit points in 87% (47 of 54) of her career games and she has collected the most 20-point games for an active Pac-12 player with 23.
Murekatete burst onto the scene last season for the Cougars, as she set a career-high in nearly every statistical category en route to being named the 2021-22 Pac-12 Co-Most Improved Player of the Year. The 6-3 center, who is the first known Rwandan-born NCAA Division I women's basketball player, averaged a career-best 10.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in 30 starts last season. Her 47.1% shooting percentage paced Washington State last season, while she ranked in the top 10 in the Pac-12 in both blocks (4th; 1.7 BPG) and rebounds (9th; 7.0 RPG).
The Cougars, who enter year five under Head Coach Kamie Ethridge, return four starters from last season's record-setting squad. Washington State went 19-11 a season ago en route to a second-consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. Wazzu went 11-6 in the Pac-12 last season to finish in a tie for second with Oregon in the conference standings. The 19 wins are the most in a single season by a WSU women's basketball team in the NCAA Era, while the 11 Pac-12 victories are a program-best.
WSU will get the 2022-23 season off to an unofficial start this Sunday, October 30, when the Cougars host Westmont (Calif.) for an exhibition contest at Beasley Coliseum. Tip-off against the Warriors is set for 2 p.m. PT. Washington State kicks off the 2022-23 season on November 7 at home, when Loyola Marymount makes a visit to Beasley. The season opener is set to tip off at 12 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the 2022-23 season are on sale now. Fans can get their season and single-game ticket by clicking the link here.
For more information on the Washington State women's basketball team, follow @WSUCougarWBB On Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Preseason All-Pac-12 Team (media vote)
Cameron Brink, STAN
Jayda Curry, CAL
Jenna Johnson, UTAH
Haley Jones, STAN
Gianna Kneepkens, UTAH
Charlisse Leger-Walker, WSU
Jade Loville, ARIZ
Charisma Osborne, UCLA
Te-Hina Paopao, ORE
Shaina Pellington, ARIZ
Sedona Prince, ORE
Cate Reese, ARIZ
Endyia Rogers, ORE
Jaylyn Sherrod, COLO
Talia von Oelhoffen, OSU
Honorable Mention (received votes from three-or-more members of the media)
Treasure Hunt, ASU
Evelien Lutje Schipholt, CAL
Rayah Marshall, USC
Leilani McIntosh, CAL
Kennady McQueen, UTAH
Quay Miller, COLO
Bella Murekatete, WSU
Kiki Rice, UCLA
Jaddan Simmons, ASU
Haley Van Dyke, WASH
Kindyll Wetta, COLO
