Cypress Women's Basketball Season Preview: Rebuild Year

CYPRESS, CA - Cypress women's basketball program is coming off of an Elite 8 State Tournament appearance and runner up in the Orange Empire Conference. 

The Chargers preseason has just begun and the team opened with a tournament up north at Fresno City College. In the 2022-2023 season, Cypress finished second place in the Orange Empire Conference and ended the postseason in the quarterfinals of the State tournament under first year Head Coach, Brittany Imaku. Sophomores Katelyn Khuu, Emily Carbajal, Yenkhe Samten, and Mallory Sidoti are returning to the lineup for the Chargers. With majority of the team filled with incoming freshman, Coach B mentions "We're really leaning on youth, and our sophomores that we do have right now don't really have planned experience. So we're a new team." 

"This year has been challenging; we have a tough schedule every year. Our season will particularly prepare us for the conference because our conference is very strong. I think we'll take some lumps; we might take some losses, but it will help us grow. The quicker the players learn, the more successful our season will be. It's going to take time to figure out how to be a college athlete," said Coach Imaku. "Once they figure that out, I think we'll be okay. I'm confident because we compete. I'm excited to see how our leaders respond and how our freshmen, whom we count on this year, get it to groove." 

The Chargers have added a new Assistant Coach to the team Alyssa Movchan, who was a former player and shooting guard in the 2015-2017 seasons. "She's been a part of this sisterhood, this family forever," said Imaku. "A great addition, a young coach we need on our staff. She has the mindset that I have, which is what we need. I'm excited to see her come on board and help this team be good and grow. And she's going to challenge them." With the new freshmen and returning sophomores, the Chargers are looking to rebuild the team this season in hopes to grow and make another playoff run.

UP NEXT: Cypress will travel to San Diego Mesa College on Friday, November 17th. Tip-off is set for 6:00PM.

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