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The Opening Tip
Big wins lit up women’s hoops around San Diego this weekend, the Mojo are building something new, and The Keeper Institute delivered big for the next generation. Now it’s your turn: who was your favorite Wave FC player in 2025? We’ll share the results next week.
In today’s newsletter:
SDSU basketball orchestrates comeback win in final four seconds
USD basketball’s young team earns first conference win
Mojo Pro Volleyball drops home opener in four sets
The Keeper Institute, offered by the NWSL, was a hit for kids 8-18
UCSD and PLNU basketball win, and, yes, we’re talkin’ to you! Take the poll to let us know your favorite 2025 Wave FC player.
San Diego State
Naomi Panganiban. Credit: San Diego State Athletics
The Aztecs erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit and stunned Utah State 73-72 on a Naomi Panganiban pull-up jumper with 4.4 seconds left.
SDSU overcame a rough third quarter (26.7% shooting, 0-for-7 from three) to win their sixth straight Mountain West game and move to 12-3 overall.
Former Aggie CJ Latta led an 8-0 run to spark the comeback.
Panganiban led all scorers with 23 points and four assists, while Nala Williams added 11 points and hit a key three late.
Takeaway
This was a gut-check win. Not pretty, not clean, but the kind of comeback that proves San Diego State knows how to survive when its best basketball isn’t there.
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San Diego Mojo Pro Volleyball
Hayden Kubik on the attack. Ryan Young/San Diego Mojo
The Mojo fell 3–1 to the Orlando Valkyries in their 2026 home opener at Viejas Arena, dropping to 0-2 on the young season.
Nearly 2,000 fans filled Viejas to get to watch the 2026 team and first-year head coach Alisha Glass Childress.
San Diego earned its first set win under Childress in the third set, powered by Marin Grote and Hayden Kubik in the closing points.
Hayden Kubik led the Mojo with 11 kills off the bench, while Jovana Brakočević added 10 kills, six digs, and two blocks.
Takeaway
The result wasn’t there, but the Mojo’s first home match showed early fight, growing belief, and a foundation that’s starting to take shape.
University of San Diego
Hallie Rhodes led all scorers with 16 points. Thomas Christensen / USD Athletics
USD erased a double-digit deficit, shooting 58.3% in the final 10 minutes and holding Pepperdine to just seven points to secure its first West Coast Conference win.
The Toreros forced 16 turnovers and closed the game on a 7–2 run in the final minute to snap a five-game skid.
Senior Hallie Rhodes led all scorers with 16 points and hit the go-ahead three, while sophomore Kylie Ray added 14 and freshman Olivia Owens filled the stat sheet with 11 rebounds and five steals.
USD continues to grow with its young core: 11 of the team’s 15 players are freshmen or sophomores.
Takeaway
In her first season, head coach Blanche Alverson is building toward the future by developing a process-driven approach as the Toreros learn how to win together.
The Keeper Institute
Kailen Sheridan shares her thoughts about The Keeper Institute with HSSD’s Jourdan Ziff.
The Keeper Institute hosted its third annual San Diego Winter Camp at SDSU, welcoming youth goalkeepers for elite training.
Led by Jillian Loyden and Kailen Sheridan, the camp featured instruction from 10 additional professional goalkeepers representing a variety of playing styles and experiences.
Drills emphasized not only technical skills like shot stopping and positioning, but also confidence, a key focus for the demanding goalkeeping position.
Takeaway
TKI continues to separate itself by developing the whole goalkeeper, pairing high-level instruction with mentorship and confidence-building.
Point Loma Nazarene
UC San Diego
Erin Condron scored 22 for UCSD in the team’s win over UC Riverside. Miguel Mejia / UCSD Athletics
🏀 Point Loma and UC San Diego deliver big Saturday wins
The UCSD Tritons defeated UC Riverside 70–54 at LionTree Arena, to improve to 10-5 overall and remain unbeaten in Big West play at 5-0.
Erin Condron posted a career-high 22 points and 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season, while Dymonique Maxie added 17 points and Sabrina Ma led the Tritons with three steals.
The PLNU Sea Lions won their third straight with a 70–65 road victory over Concordia, never trailing after jumping out to an early lead.
Eiley Tippins led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Izzy Navarro (15) and Hannah Golan (11) added double figures, including back-to-back first-quarter threes that sparked a 12–2 start.
🗳️ Poll About Wave FC Players
There are so many great choices but you can only choose one! We want to know who your favorite Wave FC player was during the 2025 season. Check back next week when we share the results.
Who was your favorite Wave FC player during the 2025 season?
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Until Wednesday,
Her Sports San Diego