Women’s basketball is at an all-time high right now! The game’s evolution is only getting better and female athletes are kicking down the door to prove that they belong in this game. The audience for women’s college basketball peaked at 24 million viewers, which is an 89 percent increase from 2023. As the game continues to grow, so do the players that come along with it.
AIC’s women’s basketball program has been on a great run for these last three years, especially in 2021. That year, the Yellow Jackets made it to the NCAA tournament, which is a big deal because it’s the stage where teams fight to win the National Championship. Although the team did not win, being able to be a part of that experience is monumental for college athletes.
The AIC women’s basketball team is coached by Kristen Hutchison. Hutchinson has been the head coach of the team since 2007 and was also a student-athlete here at AIC. During her time as a player, she was the captain for three years and led her team to the NCAA tournament during her sophomore, junior, and senior years, placing her in our AIC Hall of Fame! She was named coach of the year by the Northeast 10 Conference and has helped develop her players into All-Americans. During the 2023-24 season, the team lost in the Northeast 10 Conference quarterfinals after losing two of their key players Kayla Robinson and Briana Lee.
Returning players to look out for this season are senior captain Tia-Marie Martinez and senior Rhaymi Porter. They have seen what it takes to make it into the playoffs and to play under a legacy such as coach Hutchinson.
I sat down with Martinez and Porter and asked how they felt about this upcoming season and what they wanted their legacy to be at AIC. Martinez stated, “The legacy I want to leave behind at AIC would be proof that hard work does truly pay off. Coming into AIC, I was a walk-on with the dreams of one day becoming a starter. I would work so hard every day because I wanted to prove to myself that I could accomplish what I set my mind to. Fast forward to senior year, I am now the captain and have the honor of playing the point guard role.”
Porter said, “I want to leave behind a legacy that defense is just as important as offense. I think when people think of basketball, they think of how many points you’re scoring and all those different types of records.” She added that she wants to be recognized for her “blocking and defense” too. She wants the next generation of Yellow Jackets to know “that you don’t have to break records and score all these points to be important on a team.”
Because it’s their senior season and because they are still getting accustomed to a new team, I asked what their goals were for this upcoming season–what they wish to accomplish this year, and if they believe they can make it to the NCAA tournament again. “Winning a championship has been a goal of mine since coming to AIC,” Martinez said. “I do believe that this year’s team has the capability of making it to the NCAA tournament. We are very diverse in our skills and each play crucial roles on and off the court.”
Porter was also hopeful about the team’s chances. “I expect us to go pretty far,” she said. “With it being my second, but last year, I obviously want us to go to the tournament since we fell short last year.”
With the season right around the corner, we hope to see what talents arise on the court for our Yellow Jackets and wish them the best of luck this season!
