Colorado State University Athletics
Shootaround: Viva Colorado in Las Vegas
3/10/2026 1:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Williams confident focus will be in right place
LAS VEGAS – The Mountain West Championship has developed into a Front Range Showdown.
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Colorado State, the third seed which tied for second in the regular season, will face ninth-seeded Air Force for not only the women's basketball championship at the Thomas & Mack Center but the right to play in the NCAA Tournament.
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Air Force becomes the lowest-seeded team to reach the title game, but the Falcons are on an impressive run led by Milahnie Perry, who has already matched the tournament scoring record with 78 points in their three games.
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The Falcons are no longer a nine-seed.
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"Tonight, they're arguably the one-seed. I mean, who they've gone through, and our kids, we know how we've had to strain against Air Force to beat them," Williams said. "So, that probably will prove to be a positive for us because there's no way we're going to be overlooking them. No, it's not that. We know the disruption that they can cause.
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"We know Perry's had really good games against us, and so, if your focus is anywhere other than doing your job, trouble comes into play."
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If the Rams need more fuel, their tournament history against the Falcons is just 1-3. The two teams have split the past 18 overall meetings.
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Seeds don't matter in March. Common foes add to the drama.
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"We're a rival for Air Force. That's a rival game," Williams said. "Air Force, Wyoming, those are rivals. You can throw out the records. Don't they say that with rivalry games, the record doesn't matter? You can see why. I mean, look at what they're doing. Look at what they've done.
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"Perry is arguably the hottest player in the country right now. When you have that weaponry -- and they're always disruptive. They always play with incredible effort, and (Emily) Adams is really playing well. That's why. We know we're going to have to play our best game of the tournament. There's no question about that."
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Perry is on a heater, and she's had big games against Colorado State before. Through the Rams swept the season series, it was a nail-biter in Colorado Springs as Perry originally set her career high with 31 points.
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In this tournament, Air Force's all-time leading scorer (1,818 points) tallied 33 as the Falcons knocked off top-seeded San Diego State. And yes, when the film scout started, it started with her.
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CSU guard Brooke Carlson expected as much. Even if no one expected this to be the championship matchup, the Centennial State is enjoying the spotlight.
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"I love it. Yeah, I think it brings a lot of energy to the state also just figuring out who is going to get it done, who is going to come out on top," Carlson said. "So it's going to be really fun."
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The Right Approach
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Keep the eye on the prize or the task at hand? Easy question for Williams.
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"I think where you put your mind today is the most critical part of this basketball game, and that's what our group has really done a good job of all year long," he said. "I mean if your focus is in the wrong spot, Air Force is too good.
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"They've got too many good things going right now. So, the focus, I think you've got to totally consume yourself with just your job, both offensively and defensively, and then I think you perform well. If you spray your mind a little bit, that's when you don't play as well. So, that's going to be our message, and again, our kids, their focus has been good, really, the entire tournament. Really, all year long."
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Focus on the task, the rewards will come.
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In the Paint
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This is Colorado State's fifth appearance in the championship, having split the previous four. The Rams won it all back in 2021 (a 59-56 win over BYU) and again in 2016 (55-54 over Fresno State). The losses came to Fresno State in 2014 and UNLV in 2022. … The lowest seed to ever win the tournament is No. 7 Wyoming back in 2021. … Air Force assistant Lauren Brocke is a former Ram, having played for Williams from 2018-21.
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Colorado State, the third seed which tied for second in the regular season, will face ninth-seeded Air Force for not only the women's basketball championship at the Thomas & Mack Center but the right to play in the NCAA Tournament.
Â
Air Force becomes the lowest-seeded team to reach the title game, but the Falcons are on an impressive run led by Milahnie Perry, who has already matched the tournament scoring record with 78 points in their three games.
Â
The Falcons are no longer a nine-seed.
Â
"Tonight, they're arguably the one-seed. I mean, who they've gone through, and our kids, we know how we've had to strain against Air Force to beat them," Williams said. "So, that probably will prove to be a positive for us because there's no way we're going to be overlooking them. No, it's not that. We know the disruption that they can cause.
Â
"We know Perry's had really good games against us, and so, if your focus is anywhere other than doing your job, trouble comes into play."
Â
If the Rams need more fuel, their tournament history against the Falcons is just 1-3. The two teams have split the past 18 overall meetings.
Â
Seeds don't matter in March. Common foes add to the drama.
Â
"We're a rival for Air Force. That's a rival game," Williams said. "Air Force, Wyoming, those are rivals. You can throw out the records. Don't they say that with rivalry games, the record doesn't matter? You can see why. I mean, look at what they're doing. Look at what they've done.
Â
"Perry is arguably the hottest player in the country right now. When you have that weaponry -- and they're always disruptive. They always play with incredible effort, and (Emily) Adams is really playing well. That's why. We know we're going to have to play our best game of the tournament. There's no question about that."
Â
Perry is on a heater, and she's had big games against Colorado State before. Through the Rams swept the season series, it was a nail-biter in Colorado Springs as Perry originally set her career high with 31 points.
Â
In this tournament, Air Force's all-time leading scorer (1,818 points) tallied 33 as the Falcons knocked off top-seeded San Diego State. And yes, when the film scout started, it started with her.
Â
CSU guard Brooke Carlson expected as much. Even if no one expected this to be the championship matchup, the Centennial State is enjoying the spotlight.
Â
"I love it. Yeah, I think it brings a lot of energy to the state also just figuring out who is going to get it done, who is going to come out on top," Carlson said. "So it's going to be really fun."
Â
The Right Approach
Â
Keep the eye on the prize or the task at hand? Easy question for Williams.
Â
"I think where you put your mind today is the most critical part of this basketball game, and that's what our group has really done a good job of all year long," he said. "I mean if your focus is in the wrong spot, Air Force is too good.
Â
"They've got too many good things going right now. So, the focus, I think you've got to totally consume yourself with just your job, both offensively and defensively, and then I think you perform well. If you spray your mind a little bit, that's when you don't play as well. So, that's going to be our message, and again, our kids, their focus has been good, really, the entire tournament. Really, all year long."
Â
Focus on the task, the rewards will come.
Â
In the Paint
Â
This is Colorado State's fifth appearance in the championship, having split the previous four. The Rams won it all back in 2021 (a 59-56 win over BYU) and again in 2016 (55-54 over Fresno State). The losses came to Fresno State in 2014 and UNLV in 2022. … The lowest seed to ever win the tournament is No. 7 Wyoming back in 2021. … Air Force assistant Lauren Brocke is a former Ram, having played for Williams from 2018-21.
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Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballColorado State Basketball (W): Ryun Williams Post-Game (San Jose State, 25-26)
Tuesday, March 03
Colorado State Basketball (W): Leimane (L) and Bargesser (R) Post-Game (Air Force, 25-26)
Saturday, February 28
Colorado State Basketball (W): Ryun Williams Post-Game (Air Force, 25-26)
Saturday, February 28
Colorado State Basketball (W): Leimane (L) and Froebe (R) Post-Game (Wyoming, 25-26)
Wednesday, February 25