Oregon State’s women’s basketball program is reshaping its interior after a wave of departures that left the team thin at the post position. The Beavers have turned to the junior college market to find a solution, announcing the addition of Mariia Ignatchenko, a 6‑4 forward/center who brings both size and experience to the lineup.
Ignatchenko, originally from Mykolaiv in Ukraine, arrives after a season in which she averaged 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game at Salt Lake Community College. Her 6‑4 frame gives the Beavers a rare combination of height and versatility, qualities the coaching staff believes can immediately impact the paint.
She will join returning stalwarts such as Lara Alonso Basuro, who contributed 4.9 points per game last season, and newcomer Evelini Smith, a 6‑4 forward from St. Mary’s High School in Antelope, California. Together with guards Kennedie Shuler and Jenna Villa, the squad hopes to blend interior presence with perimeter firepower.
The roster now stands at thirteen players, leaving room for two additional signings as the staff continues to hunt for depth at forward and center. Coach’s comments hint at a deliberate strategy: fortify the frontcourt while preserving the guard talent that helped the team return to the NCAA Tournament in 2025.
A New Era in the Pac‑12
With the Pac‑12 landscape shifting, Oregon State sees an opportunity to compete more aggressively against traditional powerhouses. The Beavers’ recent experience in the WBIT and their near‑miss in the West Coast Conference Championship provide a foundation upon which to build a more balanced attack.