Colorado State University Athletics
Keeping in Place What’s Worked
5/8/2025 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Portal season finished, team looks toward building
This is the new landscape. It can't be escaped, nor would coaches try. The transfer portal has become a valuable tool, and for some players, a profitable one.
Ryun Williams knows he's not dealing with the same kind of numbers men's basketball programs are facing, but they are on the rise.
"The money is throwing a different twist in this. It's good for the players," Colorado State's women's basketball coach said, entering his 14th season. "It's not to the level of the men, but it's a big part of the game now. How you go about managing your current roster and where you want to invest. Can you believe we're talking about investing in players? If I would have had this conversation three years ago, I'd be going to jail."
What varies from year to year is the window shopping a team does. There are roles to fill, from starter to bench. One season may be looking out for guards, but this trip into the market was focused more on the paint for the Rams.
In Maddy Bragg (Northern State) and Lexi Deden (Montana State), the Rams addressed their inside needs, both experienced in the post, both 6-foot-2 or taller. There was still a need for perimeter help, which Lexus Bargesser can fill.
"Maddy and Lexi, the two forwards, bring versatility in who they can guard. They can guard big 5s, but also guard perimeter people, but they play with a force, a physicality, and have an inside presence we needed to add," Williams said. "Lexus is just really dynamic guard who can get to the basket. She can play-make, she can run a team, she can guard and shut down the best player. They each bring something different, but also something we really needed to elevate our team."
Still, some variables will never change.
Talent is just part of the transfer equation. The player has to fit personality wise on a team which retained its core for the upcoming season. The program doesn't need to rebuild, just retool, and in an effort to do so the character and makeup of the team can't change.
So as all three of them came to campus, Hannah Ronsiek was trying to get to know them more as people. She's confident the coaches will bring in talent, and she's just as confident assistant coach Kasondra McKay is looking for character players.
Still, face to face can seal a deal.
"For sure. McKay also talks to us before the recruit comes," Ronsiek said. "I think the only girls they know will mesh with the team are recruited. We are a really close team, and I think it shows from the recruiting we'd all get along together. I think they're doing the same in the transfer portal.
"I'm not too worried about it. I know I have established great friendships on the team. I don't have to be best friends with everybody on the team, just friends. I may know a bit about their stats and their previous school, but I'm judging them on their personality and how they go about their visit."
The talent part has also worked out well recently. In four of the past five seasons, the Rams have had the Newcomer of the Year in the Mountain West. Of them, only Emma Ronsiek last year was projected to be so.
The process in making it all fits begins June 16, when the entire team (sans Marta Leimane, who is playing for a national team in Latvia) joins forces to put the pieces together. The Rams have a system. The newcomers, including three freshmen, have skillsets. There are redshirt freshmen still being developed.
Hannah has been through this before, first as one of the fresh faces, the past two years spent in a leadership role in the welcoming committee. One thing she can guarantee is Williams will not be stubborn about the offense throughout the summer.
It begins with small group work, then expands into something bigger.
"I think we saw that last summer with such a new team. There are new personalities and new types of games brought to the team," she said. "We get to shift our offense a bit, depending on the personnel we have. I think it's super fun, kind of figuring out what we want to do with our offense over the summer.
"I like being able to work with new position groups and your new skills. In season, you're really working on practicing as a team and meshing, so it's not as much individual work. I like being able to focus on individual skill work and working with your position group and building that team chemistry."
Williams know the three transfers all chose Colorado State for that chance. Whatever role they had elsewhere, they can prove it can be something bigger in Fort Collins. What they do well may be something which adds to the offensive depth of the system.
There's a base Williams will always begin with, but where it goes depends on those summer preparatory months. Those are proving grounds, plain and simple, but it's not just about what any of the players bring to the floor.
"We retained the core of our roster, so you don't want to disrupt that. The character you bring in has got to help elevate, or at least match," Williams said. "That group can become cohesive. They have to mesh personality wise, and to me, that's the most important thing, more than the talent."
The way of doing business is constantly changing for Williams, but the approach, he's intent on sticking with what has worked.
Ryun Williams knows he's not dealing with the same kind of numbers men's basketball programs are facing, but they are on the rise.
"The money is throwing a different twist in this. It's good for the players," Colorado State's women's basketball coach said, entering his 14th season. "It's not to the level of the men, but it's a big part of the game now. How you go about managing your current roster and where you want to invest. Can you believe we're talking about investing in players? If I would have had this conversation three years ago, I'd be going to jail."
What varies from year to year is the window shopping a team does. There are roles to fill, from starter to bench. One season may be looking out for guards, but this trip into the market was focused more on the paint for the Rams.
In Maddy Bragg (Northern State) and Lexi Deden (Montana State), the Rams addressed their inside needs, both experienced in the post, both 6-foot-2 or taller. There was still a need for perimeter help, which Lexus Bargesser can fill.
"Maddy and Lexi, the two forwards, bring versatility in who they can guard. They can guard big 5s, but also guard perimeter people, but they play with a force, a physicality, and have an inside presence we needed to add," Williams said. "Lexus is just really dynamic guard who can get to the basket. She can play-make, she can run a team, she can guard and shut down the best player. They each bring something different, but also something we really needed to elevate our team."
Still, some variables will never change.
Talent is just part of the transfer equation. The player has to fit personality wise on a team which retained its core for the upcoming season. The program doesn't need to rebuild, just retool, and in an effort to do so the character and makeup of the team can't change.
So as all three of them came to campus, Hannah Ronsiek was trying to get to know them more as people. She's confident the coaches will bring in talent, and she's just as confident assistant coach Kasondra McKay is looking for character players.
Still, face to face can seal a deal.
"For sure. McKay also talks to us before the recruit comes," Ronsiek said. "I think the only girls they know will mesh with the team are recruited. We are a really close team, and I think it shows from the recruiting we'd all get along together. I think they're doing the same in the transfer portal.
"I'm not too worried about it. I know I have established great friendships on the team. I don't have to be best friends with everybody on the team, just friends. I may know a bit about their stats and their previous school, but I'm judging them on their personality and how they go about their visit."
The talent part has also worked out well recently. In four of the past five seasons, the Rams have had the Newcomer of the Year in the Mountain West. Of them, only Emma Ronsiek last year was projected to be so.
The process in making it all fits begins June 16, when the entire team (sans Marta Leimane, who is playing for a national team in Latvia) joins forces to put the pieces together. The Rams have a system. The newcomers, including three freshmen, have skillsets. There are redshirt freshmen still being developed.
Hannah has been through this before, first as one of the fresh faces, the past two years spent in a leadership role in the welcoming committee. One thing she can guarantee is Williams will not be stubborn about the offense throughout the summer.
It begins with small group work, then expands into something bigger.
"I think we saw that last summer with such a new team. There are new personalities and new types of games brought to the team," she said. "We get to shift our offense a bit, depending on the personnel we have. I think it's super fun, kind of figuring out what we want to do with our offense over the summer.
"I like being able to work with new position groups and your new skills. In season, you're really working on practicing as a team and meshing, so it's not as much individual work. I like being able to focus on individual skill work and working with your position group and building that team chemistry."
Williams know the three transfers all chose Colorado State for that chance. Whatever role they had elsewhere, they can prove it can be something bigger in Fort Collins. What they do well may be something which adds to the offensive depth of the system.
There's a base Williams will always begin with, but where it goes depends on those summer preparatory months. Those are proving grounds, plain and simple, but it's not just about what any of the players bring to the floor.
"We retained the core of our roster, so you don't want to disrupt that. The character you bring in has got to help elevate, or at least match," Williams said. "That group can become cohesive. They have to mesh personality wise, and to me, that's the most important thing, more than the talent."
The way of doing business is constantly changing for Williams, but the approach, he's intent on sticking with what has worked.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballCSU Basketball (WBB) - Behind the Whiteboard with Coach Sy
Thursday, August 28
CSU Basketball (WBB) - Gear Day 2025
Tuesday, August 26
CSU Basketball (WBB) - 94 Feet with Brooke Carlson
Wednesday, August 13
CSU Basketball (WBB) - 94 Feet with McKenna Murphy
Thursday, August 07