The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
The Beach saw a modest improvement in year two under head coach Amy Wright, and if that trend is to continue in the 2025-26 campaign, there will need to be a lot of growth exhibited throughout the season.
With only one senior and one junior on the roster, Long Beach State will have to work through inexperience and self-discovery, but there’s optimism that the pieces are in place to mold a winning program in the seasons ahead.
“I like this group. I really do,” said Wright. “I think it comes down to us maturing a lot on the court. Everything between the lines, we’ve got to grow up a little bit and realize that this is tough. If this is not what you signed up for, to work hard, practice hard, love the game, and love what you’re doing, then this isn’t the place for you.”
The most seasoned returner from last year’s group is junior forward Kennan Ka, who returned to the floor after a major knee injury derailed her 2023-24 season. Ka is the only player on the roster not recruited by Wright and her staff, but has the most collegiate minutes of any returner and can do a lot of different things on the court.
She wasn’t 100 percent last season and her minutes reflected that, but her leadership and basketball IQ will be extremely valuable in the season ahead as she prepares for a full workload as a ballhandler, rebounder, efficient scorer, and leader on the court.
“She’s accepted the leadership role with a young team, and that’s not easy to do,” said Wright of Ka. “She shows it every day in practice what we’re trying to do. She comes in ready to work and she does what is expected of her. They all have areas to improve in, but she’s somebody that can really fill that role. Even through practice, she shoots like 60 percent because she takes really good shots. She takes her shots.”
She’ll need to handle the ball more often this season, along with sophomore JaQuoia Jones-Brown, who is fresh off a strong debut season that landed her on the Big West All-Freshman Team. Jones-Brown averaged 7.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season, making her the top returning scorer and rebounder on the roster.
The Beach had an extremely veteran backcourt of Savannah Tucker and Patricia Chung last season, but will need some younger players to step up handling the ball and getting the offense going.
Sophomore point guard Christy Reynoso should see more minutes this season, and freshman guard Brynna Pukis was in the starting five for LBSU’s preseason exhibition game. Pukis is a knockdown perimeter shooter who will need to develop more of an all-around game as she adjusts to the college level.
A big absence for the Beach will be in the frontcourt, where sophomore forward Mykelle Richards will miss at least the start of the season with an injury. Richards was a dynamic performer on both ends of the floor as a freshman, also earning All-Freshman Team recognition in the conference. Wright says she’s got her “fingers crossed” that Richards will be able to return by the end of the season, but either way her presence will be missed in all phases of the game.
The lone senior on the 2025-26 roster is San Diego State grad transfer Khylee Pepe. The 5-foot-11 guard is a Long Beach native who prepped at Bishop Montgomery High School, and is a physical presence in the frontcourt. She’s coming off a medical redshirt season last year, and is expected to play major minutes for the Beach this winter.
“She’s a banger,” said Wright of Pepe. “And she adds to that leadership element for Kennan. She can go inside out. She’s not limited to just playing around the rim, she can shoot it from three as well. It’s an added dimension in terms of what we lost offensively down there. What she’s got to get used to is the other side of the ball, because we do get up and guard and we can’t fall asleep. She’s got to get used to that pace that we play at, and that’s been one of her transitions.”
Other contributors include Tairat Samuel-Afolabi, who redshirted last season after arriving from Stockholm, Sweden. Another international player to watch is 6-foot-2 freshman Rosie Akot, who is a strong athlete with a ton of upside, and will just need time to adjust to the pace and physicality of the American game.
The Beach also bring back two Spaniards in the frontcourt in 6-foot-2 Judit Oliva Fernandez and 6-foot-3 Haley Wright. Oliva Fernandez is poised to be in the starting five, and has the ability to stretch the floor with her shooting touch. The key for her will be locking in defensively and using her length to help control the glass.
Long Beach State opens the season with a pair of true road games, opening at Wyoming on Nov. 7 before heading to Colorado State on Nov. 9. Their home opener at Walter Pyramid is on Nov. 12 against Cal Baptist.
