A Rising Force in New Mexico Women's Basketball
Ashlyn Jones, a 29‑year‑old from Las Cruces, has become the face of the Rio Rancho Lady Roadrunners, a New Mexico women’s basketball team that is fighting for a spot in the Women’s American Basketball Association’s West Division. After a hard‑fought 65‑59 victory over the Denver Dynasty in their first exhibition, the squad is gearing up for a final tune‑up against the same opponent.
Coach Charles Caldwell not only named Jones team captain but also forecasted a 70‑59 win for the upcoming match, underscoring the confidence placed in the young guard. Caldwell’s strategic vision and Jones’s leadership have turned the team’s modest roster into a cohesive unit hungry for its first WABA berth.
The road to that debut has not been smooth. Jones battles a benign meningioma, a brain tumor discovered after a football injury while she was still playing for New Mexico’s only women’s semi‑pro football team, the New Mexico Banitas. She acknowledges that women in semi‑pro sports often contend with fewer sponsors, limited practice space and scant media attention, yet she says the camaraderie and focus that sport provides keep her moving forward.
Jones’s experience in football has given her a unique perspective on sponsorship dynamics; she notes that securing support for basketball is considerably easier than for football, a disparity that reflects broader gender challenges in niche athletics. Nevertheless, she believes that the discipline and community impact of team sports extend far beyond personal achievement.
As the Lady Roadrunners prepare for their final exhibition against the Denver Dynasty, the team’s story illustrates both the promise and the obstacles facing women’s basketball in the Southwest. With the backing of local fans and the organizational support of the Rio Rancho Lady Roadrunners, Jones and her teammates hope to translate their on‑court progress into a lasting place in the WABA.