Though the Cowgirls haven't even been practicing for a month, freshman Taylor Donaldson has already taken notice of the difference between playing high school basketball and Division-I collegiate basketball.
"I knew everyone said the pace at the next level is fast, but it really is," Donaldson said. "The intensity, everybody wants to be there and everyone is good.
"The competitiveness has been out of this world, I've never played in practices this competitive."
While the difference has been noticeable, that's not to say that Donaldson isn't prepared for the heightened level of play—in fact, it's quite the opposite, as she brings with her a plethora of accolades and achievements from the prep level.
Donaldson was a standout basketball and volleyball player while playing for South Albany High School in Albany, Oregon. Donaldson was unanimously selected as a First Team All-State selection while competing at the class-5A level in basketball.
Those accomplishments caught the eye of head coach Heather Ezell and her staff, who like the versatility Donaldson adds to the roster.
"She can score in a lot of different ways and she can do a lot of different things on the court that helps teams in different varieties," Ezell said. "What we're excited about for her is that she can play multiple positions. I can see her playing a two, three or four spot for us, which keeps her on the court longer."
Her prestige on the court garnered more than just UW's attention, however, as she was also recruited by Eastern Washington and fellow Mountain West schools Hawai'i and UC Davis. However, the Cowgirls were able to allure the athletic 6-foot guard away from the West Coast and to the high plains of Laramie.
"I'd never been to Wyoming before my visit, but when I came on my visit I loved the coaching staff and I met with the girls and I loved it," Donaldson said.
Sharpening her own individual skills to compete at a Division-I level is something Donaldson is working on every single practice this offseason, but she hasn't had to do it alone. Being one of nine newcomers, it's been imperative for Donaldson that some of the Cowgirls' returners and staff have all come together to build a tough, but supportive environment as the Cowgirls look to improve upon a 10-20 record from a season ago.
After all, that sense of community and support amongst not only the team, but the entire state is something that drove Donaldson to choose to play for UW.
"What I really love about [this team] is everyone is so supportive. I felt like sometimes in high school, it's kind of divided between people who don't want to be there or they have other sports," Donaldson said. "Everyone [at UW] is here for the same reason. Everyone's here for the same goal and it's such a supportive environment."
Donaldson is prepared to do whatever she can, or is needed to do for the Cowgirls to win this season. With the Cowgirls losing three out of five of their starters to graduation in the offseason and over 75% of their scoring from a season ago as well, Donaldson will have a chance to make an immediate impact as a freshman, especially with her can-do attitude.
"For myself, I just want to play whatever role the team needs me to play. So, I'll do anything the team needs me to do and obviously I hope we win lots of games, and I hope I can contribute to those wins," Donaldson said.
With Donaldson's tenacious attitude aligning well with Ezell's vision for her, there certainly could be a lot of ways Donaldson could impact the game for the Cowgirls this upcoming season. For now, she's taking it one day at a time.
"I'm just excited. I feel like once we get to the first game, I've made it, like it's finally my first college game," Donaldson said. "That's mind-blowing to me, and I'm just excited."
