FORT MYERS, Fla. – As the start of fall classes approach, FGCU women's basketball and head coach
Raina Harmon are well prepared for the start of its season thanks to a productive summer.
With one year under her belt, both as a head coach and at FGCU, Harmon was able to hone in her summer plans to best set the team up for success.
"I thought we had a really productive summer," Harmon said. "With seven returning players and the majority of our coaching staff back, there is a much deeper understanding of what we're trying to accomplish. My voice is no longer the only one in the gym teaching our system and holding our players accountable. Our returners have done a great job helping our newcomers embrace our culture and expectations."
The level of detail Harmon and her staff brought to the court was clear to newcomer and Butler transfer Lily Zeinstra. Zeinstra and the seven newcomers have leaned on both their coaches, including assistants Janelle Silver-Martin and Will McIntire, who also return for year two in Fort Myers, and their teammates.
"Being a newcomer, I feel like there's been a lot of learning curves that we're just trying to navigate," Zeinstra said. "It's been really helpful with having the returners, so we have people to watch and people who already know the system and what they're doing."
As one of the returners helping the newcomers grow in the system,
Sinai Douglas appreciates how quickly the two groups of players have meshed under the tutelage of Harmon & co.
"I think they've integrated really well into our system, Douglas said. "I think we're playing really well together, so I think the summer has gone great."
The integration of the newcomers and returners has set the table for Harmon's desired identity for the program to come into clear focus – playing with pace, shooting confidently, and growing from its excellent defensive campaign in 2025-26. Harmon focused on adding length among the newcomers – Zeinstra, North Dakota State transfer Amelia Hobson, and freshmen
Ari Turla and
Elle McCulloch all stand at 5'11 or taller, adding to a top 50-ranked defense from the year prior.
"In year two, we now have experience in our system, a deeper roster, and players who understand the standard of our program," Harmon said. "Overall, I'm really encouraged by the growth we've made and excited about the foundation we've built heading into the fall. We're excited about the direction of our program and can't wait to put a team on the floor that our fans will be proud to support."
The attitude and intensity that the two groups of returners and newcomers have brought as they've become one team has also been evident to the coaches and players. It's fueled the excitement that all of them hold ahead of the 2026-27 season.
"I feel like we have a very competitive squad," Zeinstra said. "Just playing against each other in practice; once we get to play together and play against real competition, I think it's going to be exciting.
"It's really fun playing for a new coaching staff and having new teammates that all want to win, and we're all here for the right reasons, so that's exciting."
Season tickets for FGCU basketball are on sale now. Mini plans, single-game tickets and group options will be released later, and fans interested in those options can express interest by filling out
this form.
