The 2026 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Media Day took place Wednesday inside the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
Head coach Tanisha Wright and players Petra Bozan and Devyn Quigley represented the Lady Lions.
The first-year head coach was asked if bringing back former players to be on her staff was intentional. Wright responded, “Of course it’s intentional. Penn State is a special place, it really is, and you have to have a great understanding of what Penn State is and what Penn State isn’t, so bringing back people who understood what it was and what it is was really, really important because they don’t have to learn about it, it’s a feeling, it’s an aura that they can just share from their lived experience, and I think that’s really important as we move forward and we try to bring in other student-athletes and people who fit our program, so us to be able to identify who fits for Penn State and who fits with me, but it’s really important that we have people around us that understand the Penn State way.”
Wright, who excelled at Penn State (2001-2005) has also brought back former teammate and PSU all-time leading scorer, Kelly Mazzante (2000-2004), to join her on the sidelines as an assistant coach. She also hired Nevaeh Tot, who is the daughter of former Lady Lion star Helen Darling (1996-2000), to be her Graduate Assistant. Also joining the program as Chief of Staff is former player, Angie Potthoff (1992-1997) and Susan Robinson Fruchtl (1988-1992) as the Senior Director of Advancement and Strategic Relations.
When 6′-4″ junior transfer from Nebraska, Petra Bozan, was asked what the vibe and mentality has been like under Coach Wright who had won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year three times (2003, 2004, 2005) while at Penn State, Bozan replied, “We have a huge highlight on the defensive part, but she wants us to play good both defensively and offensively, but you can just expect a lot, a lot, a lot of defense from her. Our practices are a majority of defense, which we need, and in the Big Ten that’s the most important part so we really appreciate that.”
When 5′-10″ junior guard, Devyn Quigley, who transferred to Penn State from NC State was asked how the team chemistry has been since none of the players have played one minute of college basketball together, Quigley replied, “You can’t even tell that we are a new team…we love being around each other. In each and every way we’re all leaders, we lead each other, even the freshmen they have a voice and that’s important for everyone to have a voice and feel like they can take that leadership role, because a leader is defined by what you’re willing to do and how you help bring up other people with motivation.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.When both Bozan and Quigley were asked to give one word as to what to expect from this team this year, Bozan’s answer was, “Details” and Quigley’s answer was “Discipline.”
Penn State’s roster is made up of ten newcomers (7 transfers, 3 freshmen) and one returning player in Vitoria Santana.
They will be competing in a Big Ten Conference that had 12 teams make the NCAA Tournament last season and eight teams finish in the final AP Top 25: UCLA (1), Michigan (7), Minnesota (15), Iowa (16), Ohio State (17), Maryland (20), Michigan State (22) and Washington (25).
Stay with Nittany Sports Now for all of your Penn State Basketball coverage.
