ASU made its fourth NCAA playoffs appearance in the last 5 years (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025). 

Another positive aspect for the Sun Devils was that they retained 4-5 players, losing only senior Grace Summerhays. The talented Summerhays won the Women’s Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year last year - an award given to an athlete with outstanding academic and athletic achievements. 

While losing Summerhays will impact the team significantly, ASU still retained its stars from last season. Players like redshirt junior Patience Rhodes (ranked No. 23 last year), senior Beth Coulter (No. 35 last year), senior Paula Schulz-Hanssen (ranked No. 39 last year) and sophomore Isla McDonald-O’Brien (No. 50 last year). 

Rhodes should be a huge leader for the Sun Devils throughout the year after her impressive season in 2024. Additionally, Rhodes competed in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and was a candidate for National Golfer of the Year. 

ASU also added three new freshmen to the team, all of them from outside the United States. Johanna Axelsen, from Denmark; Kate Dillon, from Ireland; and Pimpisa “Fai” Rubrong, from Thailand. 

The season is already underway, as the Sun Devils look to make another return to the postseason. So far, they have played in three matches: the Annika Intercollegiate, the Mason Rudolph Championship and the Windy City Collegiate Classic. 

Annika Intercollegiate -

 ASU started off its season with a solid finish of 23 over and a 10th place in its first tournament of the year. Rhodes led the charge for the Sun Devils, finishing one under for the tournament and tied for 10th. McDonald-O’Brien and Schulz-Hanssen also played well, McDonald-O’Brien finishing at two over (tied for nineteenth) and Schulz-Hanssen finishing five over (tied for 28th).
Mason Rudolph Championship - 

ASU finished its second tournament of the year with a powerful fourth-place finish. McDonald-O’Brien led the team with an even par tournament (solo 12th place) and Rhodes followed at one over par (tied-for-13th). Schulz-Hanssen, three over par and tied for 19th, and Coulter, four over par and tied for 24th, also had a strong performance. 

Windy City Collegiate Classic - 

Although the Sun Devils as a team did not enter the tournament, three individual players from the team participated. McDonald-O’Brien had yet another strong performance, finishing the tournament tied-for-11th at three under par. Dillon and Axelsen also played in the tournament, with Dillon finishing at three over par in a tied-for-28th and Axelsen finishing at four over par in a tie for 33rd

ASU looks to continue its strong start at the Stanford Intercollegiate (October 17-19) and the Nanea Invitational (October 27-29). Following that, the team goes on a break until February before holding their first home match late March.