San Diego State women’s basketball is seeing a new era of talent emerge, led by four dynamic freshmen: Naomi Panganiban, Natalia “Nat” Martinez, Kaelyn Hamilton, and Bailey Barnhard. As they step into their first collegiate season, these athletes are not just learning the ropes—they’re making an impact.

Her Sports San Diego sat down for a fun and insightful interview with the four freshmen this week. They jokingly call themselves the “Fab Four Freshmen” but others have taken note, and the moniker rings true.

“In this day and age, it's very rare (to have four freshmen getting playing time) with the transfer portal and a lot of coaches feeling like they need to be older,” said head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson.

The freshmen have all contributed to the team’s success. Panganiban and Martinez have each earned Mountain West Conference Freshman-of-the-Week honors three times, a school record.

At times during the season, the four freshmen have all been on the court at the same time, playing with one of the veterans. Most recently it was sixth-year player Adryana “AD” Quezada. “Usually we're paired with a vet, and so we call them our babysitter,” said Hamilton. “In the (Feb 22 game versus San Jose State) the four us were paired with AD, and we said, ‘You're babysitting us,’” added Panganiban, as the Fab Four burst into laughter.

The tight-knit bond carries over to all aspects of their lives. The four freshmen live on campus and are paired as roommates: Kaelyn and Nat, and Naomi and Bailey. “Everything,” Barnhard said when asked if they do anything together outside of basketball. “I feel like if one of us is going out, the rest are going out.”

“We've discussed how we're lucky that we have each other because this is kind of a big freshman class, and we're all … from different backgrounds,” said Hamilton. “We just talked about how hard it would be if … we were by ourselves, and we're just grateful to have each other and be able to build that relationship and grow together.”

Barnhard sees their chemistry as a huge advantage. “I think it's nice that we all get to play with each other in our first year, so we could build that chemistry and hopefully get better and work better together as we continue on.”

Terry-Hutson recognized both the upperclassmen and the freshmen themselves for their seamless integration. “Our upperclassmen did a great job welcoming them in, so they have a good relationship with them, and that's really key when you're bringing in new people with transfers, the kids that have been here, and then the freshmen,” she said.

The freshmen all credited the welcoming environment created by the coaches and players as one of their biggest reasons for choosing SDSU.

When asked to describe their group of four in one word, “Spunky,” said Panganiban, “because we bring that flare. I feel like we bring the good energy to practice all the time.”

“We bring a consistent energy every day,” Hamilton added. “No drop-off. The sky’s the limit.”

Coach Terry-Hutson acknowledged their energy. “They’ve earned it,” said Terry-Hutson. “They're just a talented group. They work really hard. They've raised the level in some of our practices, but they also have a unique youthful spirit to them that keeps us all laughing and having a good time.”

This season, they shared their desire to win the Mountain West Tournament Championship and keep building from there.

“I think all of our playing styles are so different, so we all bring something different to the table,” said Martinez. “As years go on, that's really going to be key in going farther in the tournament.”

“We bring a lot of energy to practice, and during this final stretch, I think that's super crucial just so that we can remain motivated,” said Barnhard. “It's a long season, and the last part's the best part. So hopefully we can win and bring home a championship.”

“I’m excited for them and excited for us if they continue to grow and progress like we know they can,” said Terry-Hutson. “They're definitely going to leave an impact on our program.”

The team is 21-9 overall and 10-7 in the Mountain West conference. Their final home game of the season takes place Tuesday March 4 at 6:00 pm at Viejas Arena. Six seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony. Get tickets here.

The team is currently ranked fourth in Mountain West standings, high enough for a first-round bye in the Mountain West Tournament, hosted in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center. Quarterfinals begin March 10. Watch on the Mountain West Network.

The Aztecs are the only Mountain West team to defeat UNLV (23-5 overall, 15-1 conference) this season, off of a Veronica Sheffey buzzer beater at home on January 25.

Bailey Barnhard, Business Marketing

Kaelyn Hamilton, Business

Natalia “Nat” Martinez, Political Science

Naomi Panganiban, Business

San Diego State fans, take note. This freshman class is just getting started. With their skill, chemistry, and relentless drive, the future of Aztec women’s basketball is incredibly bright.