IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team is coming off a historic 2022-23 season. The Anteaters won the program's first Big West regular-season championship, advanced to the second round of the WNIT and set a school record with 25 victories last year.
 
It wasn't an easy road as the 'Eaters lost three starters to major knee injuries during conference play and were down to a seven-person rotation with three weeks left in the regular season. Although physically and emotionally tested, they continued to find a way to win, closing out their Big West slate with seven-straight victories.
 
In 2023-24, UCI returns 10 letterwinners from last year's championship squad, while they will add a redshirt freshman, two true freshmen and a graduate transfer into the mix.

Below are five things to know about UC Irvine women's basketball ahead of the season opener on Nov. 7.
 
 
VETERAN LEADERSHIP
For the first time since 2019-20, UC Irvine has more upperclassmen than underclassmen as all 10 of its returning letterwinners are juniors and seniors. Along with the experience and talent on the court, the veteran group brings a strong leadership quality that will be key to the Anteaters' success.
 
"What happens is the veterans start to cultivate and make this their team," eighth-year head coach Tamara Inoue said. "As coaches, we get to do more of the teaching and coaching, while the players take care of the effort and culture piece."
 
ALL-BIG WEST RETURNERS
Five 'Eaters earned All-Big West honors in 2022-23. Hunter Hernandez, who suffered a season-ending injury on Feb. 15 and will likely redshirt this season, was a first-team selection, while Nikki Tom, Déja Lee and Nevaeh Parkinson garnered honorable mention recognition. Parkinson was also named the conference's Best Sixth Player and Diaba Konate rounded out the group with an All-Defensive Team nod.
 
"Awards are really nice, and they were well-deserved, but I think all of them would tell you that they didn't win it on their own and that it was because of their teammates," Inoue said. "At the end of the day, it's what we do together."
 
ENTERING THE MIX
UC Irvine added four newcomers ahead of the 2023-24 season. Redshirt freshman Clara Djoko joined the team from France last December. As a midseason addition, Djoko was on the bench for the Anteaters' historic run, but did not play. The 'Eaters will also add true freshmen Shirel Nahum and Haley Hernandez, while bringing in graduate transfer Moulayna Johnson Sidi Baba. Sidi Baba, who is from Sweden, spent the previous four years at the University of Miami.
 
PRESEASON RANKINGS
UC Irvine was picked to finish second in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll. UCI earned two of the 11 first-place votes and 88 total points to come in behind defending conference tournament champion Hawai'i, which took the top spot with 95 points (six first-place votes). The Anteaters have placed among the top-two in the Big West in each of the last four seasons, and since 2020-21, they own a league-best 41-10 (.804) regular-season record.
 
"Conference play is always tough," Inoue said. "For me, it's really focusing on us and what we can do, then as we start getting through conference, we'll adjust accordingly. I think that's what my team has really bought into."
 
ON THE SCHEDULE
UC Irvine will be on the road for a majority of its preseason schedule, starting with its season opener at Pepperdine on Nov. 7. The Anteaters are then set to host Seattle U in their home opener at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, when they will reveal their 2022-23 Big West Championship banner prior to the game. The 'Eaters will also be home for contests against Eastern Washington (Nov. 20) and Denver (Dec. 2), while traveling to face Saint Mary's (Nov. 14), Pacific (Nov. 25), Texas Tech (Nov. 29) and New Mexico State (Dec. 5). In addition, UCI has a pair of neutral-site games against St. Thomas (Nov. 24) in Stockton and Colorado State (Dec. 16) in Long Beach. UC Irvine's Big West schedule will begin at UC Riverside on Dec. 28.
 
"We have a tough schedule this year," Inoue said. "We'll play at Texas Tech, and we will also play a lot of the California WCC schools. We have some good challenges and different styles of basketball we'll face in the preseason that will help prepare us for conference."