As I sit down to reflect on the California Golden Bears women's basketball team's 2023 season, I can't help but feel a genuine sense of excitement about what this program has accomplished. Having followed collegiate basketball for over a decade, I've seen numerous teams rise and fall, but there's something particularly special about this Golden Bears squad that deserves proper recognition. Their journey through the 2023 season wasn't just about wins and losses—it was about building chemistry, developing talent, and creating moments that will resonate with fans for years to come.
Let me start by saying that watching this team evolve reminded me of something I recently came across in professional basketball circles. I recall reading comments from a Serbian coach working with Meralco's EASL team who emphasized the importance of familiar relationships in building successful teams. He specifically mentioned how getting players who already understood the system and coaching staff created immediate advantages, stating "Getting Rondae and JB is a big help for us because we know the players very well. They know our team as well. It's going to be very helpful." This philosophy perfectly mirrors what made the Golden Bears so effective this past season. When players and coaches share that deep understanding, when they're not starting from scratch every season, you see the kind of seamless execution that separates good teams from great ones. The Serbian mentor's additional comment about Romero being "an experienced player that can help us as well" underscores another crucial element—the value of veteran presence, something the Golden Bears leveraged beautifully throughout their campaign.
Speaking of veteran presence, we absolutely need to talk about Jayda Curry's phenomenal leadership this season. The junior guard put up staggering numbers—averaging 19.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 42% from the field. But what impressed me most wasn't just her statistical production; it was her clutch performances in critical moments. I distinctly remember that February matchup against Stanford where Curry dropped 31 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with just 4.3 seconds remaining. That wasn't just talent on display—that was a player who understood her team's needs perfectly and delivered when it mattered most. Her development over three seasons has been remarkable to witness, and frankly, I believe she's currently one of the most underrated guards in the Pac-12 conference.
Then there's the frontcourt duo of Evelien Lutje Schipholt and Peanut Tuitele that provided the Golden Bears with such reliable interior presence. Lutje Schipholt, standing at 6'2", averaged a double-double with 12.4 points and 10.1 rebounds, while Tuitele contributed 8.7 points and 6.3 rebounds despite playing through a nagging ankle injury for much of the season. What made them so effective, in my view, was their complementary skills—Lutje Schipholt with her polished post moves and Tuitele with her defensive versatility. Their connection reminded me of that coaching insight about familiar relationships paying dividends; these two had played together for two seasons and their chemistry was palpable in every pick-and-roll situation.
The Golden Bears finished the regular season with a 21-11 record, marking their first 20-win season since 2018-19, and secured an NCAA tournament bid where they advanced to the second round before falling to eventual Final Four participant South Carolina. While some might focus on that tournament exit, I see it differently—that game demonstrated how far this team had come. They battled the nation's top-ranked team tooth and nail, trailing by just four points at halftime before depth issues eventually took their toll. What impressed me most was their resilience; they never looked intimidated, playing with a confidence that speaks volumes about the culture head coach Charmin Smith has built.
Speaking of Coach Smith, her leadership deserves special recognition. In her fourth season at the helm, she guided the Golden Bears to their most successful campaign since taking over the program. Her ability to develop talent while implementing strategic adjustments throughout games showed significant growth. I particularly admired her decision to implement a more up-tempo offensive system midway through the conference schedule—a move that saw the Golden Bears average 74.3 points per game in Pac-12 play compared to 68.9 in non-conference action. That kind of adaptability isn't common, and it made watching this team evolve throughout the season particularly rewarding for us basketball purists.
The bench contributions cannot be overlooked either. Freshman guard Lemaire Burdick provided unexpected production, averaging 7.2 points in just 18.3 minutes per game, while senior transfer Kemery Martin brought valuable experience and three-point shooting, connecting on 38.7% of her attempts from beyond the arc. These role players embodied that concept of everyone understanding their part in the larger system—again echoing that professional coaching insight about the value of players who fit seamlessly into existing frameworks.
Looking back, what made this Golden Bears team so memorable wasn't just their statistical achievements or even their postseason appearance. It was the way they played—with joy, with connection, with an understanding of each other's games that transcended typical collegiate teamwork. They finished the season ranked 25th nationally in assists per game at 16.4, demonstrating their commitment to shared basketball. Defensively, they held opponents to just 39.8% shooting from the field, good for third in the Pac-12 conference. These numbers tell a story, but they don't fully capture the essence of this team's identity.
As we look ahead, the foundation established this season gives Golden Bears fans every reason to be optimistic. With Curry returning for her senior season and several key contributors likely coming back, this program appears positioned to build upon their 2023 success. In my assessment, what they've created is more than just a winning season—it's a culture where players develop, relationships matter, and the whole truly becomes greater than the sum of its parts. And if there's one lesson other programs could learn from California's success, it's that familiar connections and shared understanding between players and coaches can create advantages that transcend raw talent alone. The Golden Bears didn't just have skilled individuals—they had a cohesive unit that understood exactly how to maximize their collective potential, and that made all the difference in their memorable 2023 campaign.