Taft College Women's Basketball Caps Historic Season with Playoff Push and Program Milestones
A season that began with promise turned into one of the most memorable campaigns in Taft College women's basketball history. The Cougars finished 19-11, placed fifth in conference, reached the second round of the state regional playoffs, and set a new standard for the program along the way. Their 14-1 start was the best opening stretch in team history, and Taft climbed to No. 18 in the state and No. 7 in the region, another landmark achievement for the program. The Black and Gold were also among the top 10 in the 3C2A in scoring and #3 in offensive rebounding.
What made the season stand out was the way Taft kept building after early tests. The Cougars opened the year against strong competition, taking lessons from losses to Fresno City and Reedley before finding their rhythm. They produced dominant efforts such as an 86-48 win over Merced, a game that showed off the team's depth, rebounding strength, and defensive pressure. Even in defeats, Taft consistently showed fight, including a high-level performance against Lemoore when Madyn Kassatly nearly posted a triple-double with 31 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
The Cougars also established themselves as a tournament team. Taft continued its command of preseason crossover play by winning its fourth crossover tournament championship, reinforcing the confidence and consistency that carried through much of the winter. That momentum translated into a strong regular season body of work, with the Cougars pairing scoring punch with physical play on the glass and the kind of resilience needed to stay in the mix in a deep conference race.
When the postseason arrived, Taft delivered one of its best moments. Seeded No. 20 in the NorCal Regional Playoffs, the Cougars went on the road and upset a higher-seeded Skyline team in the opening round, earning a 60-47 win. Alesha Gordon powered that effort with a double-double, and Taft controlled the rebounding battle in emphatic fashion. The victory sent the Cougars into the second round and gave the season another milestone, proof that their regular-season growth could carry into playoff basketball.
Several players shaped the identity of the team all season. Kassatly emerged as one of the top all-around players in the area, averaging 16.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while leading Taft in big moments throughout the year. Her production earned her first-team all-conference honors. Ella Waufle, a steady and important presence in the rotation, was named second-team all-conference, while Gordon added honorable mention recognition after delivering key performances on both ends of the floor. Together, that trio gave Taft scoring, toughness, and consistency.
The season's impact extended beyond wins and rankings. Four sophomores have already made commitments to continue their athletic careers at the next level, a strong reflection of the program's growth. Waufle is headed to Peru State University in Nebraska, Jada Miller and Nasia Thompson will continue at Cottey College in Missouri, Faith Wilson is set for Long Island University in New York for flag football, and Kassatly will move on to Western Colorado University. That next-step success gave the season an added layer of meaning for a roster that helped elevate the program's profile.
Academically, the program saw success having again the department's highest gpa with a 3.41. There were a total of 13 Academic All Conference and 5 All-State selections.
By the end, Taft's season was about more than a final record. It was a year of firsts, a year of rankings the program had not reached before, and a year that proved the Cougars could compete with top teams and win in the postseason. The 2025-26 campaign leaves behind clear takeaways: Taft made history with its start, earned statewide respect, collected individual honors, and showed that its foundation is strong enough to carry momentum into the seasons ahead.