Recruiting efforts of ASU women’s basketball coach Molly Miller resonating in 1st offseason

When Molly Miller got the women’s basketball head coaching job at Arizona State after leading Grand Canyon to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, she faced a tall task in replenishing a depleted roster from a 10-22 season.

She has a luxury she wouldn’t have had a few years ago: The transfer portal has created a path for new coaches to quickly establish their envisioned culture by adding experienced pieces.

Being familiar with the Valley for the last five years, the time she spent coaching the ‘Lopes has helped her hit the ground running at ASU with a key phrase:

“Arizona State’s a school of choice … I’ve coined the term ‘pipeline to paradise,'” Miller said Tuesday on the State of the Sun Devils Podcast. “We get to really recruit to this really neat college town in Tempe, but then you have the scope of Phoenix where these kids can really spread their wings and go to professional sports games.

“So I think the recruiting aspect, that’s my niche. I love recruiting as a head coach. I’ll be really involved in these kids’ recruiting processes.”

ASU added four high-major transfers with 287 combined games of Power 4 experience. That group includes guards Marley Washenitz (Pitt), Gabby Elliott (Penn State) and Last-Tear Poa (LSU) and forward Heloisa Carrera (Ole Miss).

ASU women's basketball coach Molly Miller gave us her best recruiting pitch on the latest episode of State of the Sun Devils. @MollyMiller33 @iamdamonallred @AZSports

Watch: https://t.co/DCxi2aGI8S

Listen: https://t.co/deQFgzZlaP pic.twitter.com/DxYY4ZKrBn

— State of the Sun Devils (@AZSportsDevils) May 7, 2025

Miller said the type of basketball her teams play draws recruits through their relentless defense (GCU was 10th in turnovers forced per game in 2024) that leads to transition offense.

“It was just connection-based,” Miller said of how the roster has come together so quickly. “I shared my vision, and once you hear the vision, I think the competitors want to hop on that train and do something, make something special, leave a legacy, especially in Year 1 with a new era.

“I’m really excited to have them showcase their talents, but really their heart, their relentless energy. I’ve gotten to know these kids, and I think the fans are going to love that they’re representing Sun Devil basketball.”

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