Xavier women’s basketball head coach Billi Chambers describes herself as a “pretty patinet person.”
Patience has been vital for the third-year head coach, but it’s also been easy.
“They make it super easy because they work so hard. It’s not like you’re frustrated because they’re not putting in the effort,” Chambers said. “You know what you’re taking on, you know it’s gonna be a challenge, but sometimes the feelings are just gonna be there and you have to learn how to manage them.”
Xavier went 1-27 in Chambers’ first season in 2024 and hasn’t had a winning season since 2016. However, the program, and Chambers’ plan, showed signs of life last season.
Xavier had a six-win improvement overall. In January, the Musketeers snapped a 47-game Big East losing streak with a home win over Butler. Two months later, the Musketeers won their first Big East Conference Tournament game in 10 years.
There were other turning points throughout the season, which included a 4-2 non-conference start. The Musketeers also held Sun Belt-champion Arkansas State to 41 points after the Red Wolves came to Cintas Center off back-to-back 100-point performances.
Obviously, 1-17 in league play won’t cut it, but Xavier left a few wins out there with eight single-digit Big East defeats.
“Modest growth, but you honestly expected a little bit more,” Chambers said. “We started talking about that in the offseason that we felt we could’ve gotten a few more.”
With a half-dozen returners and a few key transfer additions, Xavier is looking for another jump this season.
“They really just want to be proud of being the ones that transform it and really take the next step,” Chambers aid. “We like what we’ve seen so far and how they’re starting to gel. A lot of work that still has to be done. Super optimistic about what this season looks like. I think this is a group that’s taking to heart wanting to make some noise this year.”
Meri Kanerva leads Xavier’s returning cast
Of the six players Xavier retained, guard Meri Kanerva will have the biggest impact. The Finland native averaged a team-high 11.2 points, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 43.8% from the floor.
“The best is yet to come with her (Kanerva) and I’m so excited to see it,” Chambers said.
Kanerva went from wide-eyed freshman to team leader in just one season. She became the first Xavier player to earn a preseason all-conference honor when she was named an honorable mention All-Big East pick last month.
“I’m excited to see what we turn out to be,” Kanerva said. “We have a lot of potential. I think we’re finding that chemistry that will translate to the court.”
Also returning for Xavier this season are guards Phoebe Holmes, Vivien Nesjasmic and Lucia Martinez Lopez along with forwards MacKenzie Givens and Petra Oborilova.
“They really helped that carry over and helped the new young women coming in understand how we operate and what it looks like,” Chambers said. “They’ve really established the standard and the culture.”
Xavier attacked an edge in the transfer portal
Last season, Xavier followed an international formula that helped Chambers have success at Iona. This offseason, the Musketeers were after something different when building the roster.
“I felt like we were missing that edge, that aggressiveness,” Chambers said. “Though it hasn’t settled in the way I want it to yet or contagious as I want it to be, you can see it daily. You can see them start to be a little more aggressive and that’s the type of uncomfortable feeling we want for other teams.”
Leading the chip-on-the-shoulder movement is Mariyah Noel, an Ole Miss transfer who appeared in 39 games off the bench over the last two seasons.
“Hearing what the coaches had to say about my journey and what I was trying to do, this go-around for me was very, very important,” Noel said. “I’m going into my junior year, so stepping on campus gave me a breath of fresh air. I am a top-tier player and can help a program be successful.”
Noel slots into Chambers’ starting lineup as an aggressive scorer who has a chance to prove herself in the Big East along with fellow transfers Savannah White (Indiana State) and Audia Young (Auburn).
“I’ve always been a competitor, no matter what it is. We could be playing Jenga, I’d be in it to win it,” Noel said. “I think it’s a good thing and it’s where that edge comes from.”
Offseason fodder can provide motivation, too, and Xavier got that when the Musketeers were picked to finish last in the Big East preseason coaches’ poll.
“It definitely gives me a little fire,” Noel said. “It’s time to prove them wrong.”
Xavier opens the 2025-26 season at Cintas Center against New Haven Nov. 4.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: ‘Super optimistic.’ Xavier women’s basketball looks to continue growth with Billi Chambers
Reporting by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
