TCU went 1-17 two years ago. Now these Horned Frogs players are in the Sweet 16!
It seems like forever ago that TCU women’s basketball went 1-17 in the Big 12 and 8-23 overall.
But it was just two seasons ago, a difficult 2022-23 season.
The Horned Frogs have won more than 50 games since that dismal season, including winning the program’s first Big 12 regular-season and conference tournament championships.
Many of the players on the re-shaped roster built by head coach Mark Campbell only know the experience of winning at TCU. But Aaliyah Roberson, DaiJa Turner and Knisha Godfrey all remember well how tough that 2022 season was.
The trio are the only the Horned Frogs remaining from that era.
Nobody knows how far the program has come better than them. It’s been a surreal and rewarding experience for the players who opted to stay in Fort Worth despite the lack of early success.
“It’s really crazy, Mark has turned this program around a lot,” Roberson said. “I would’ve never thought we were going to make it to March Madness after my first season. But under Mark I thought we could do something because he’s turned programs around before.”
Roberson signed with TCU as a freshman in the Class of 2022 out of San Antonio and it would’ve been understandable if Roberson would’ve jumped in the portal after Raegan Pebley was fired in March 2023, but after meeting with Campbell Roberson was convinced that things were about to change in Fort Worth.
“I had a meeting with Mark and he was showing me all things he’s done at other programs,” Roberson said. “I trusted him and there’s something about him that is drawing me to him and his program. His resiliency and what he’s done at other programs like ours, I just put trust in him.”
It was a leap of faith for players like Roberson to remain with Campbell. He had experience at Oregon as an assistant, but had only coached two seasons as a head coach at Sacramento State.
There he led the Hornets to their first NCAA Tournament. That achievement and his initial approach made a strong first impression on players like Godfrey.
“He was very intentional about what it is that he wanted to do,” Godfrey said. “He reminded us each day of what our goals were, what the focus was. I believed in Mark’s vision and I wanted to win.”
Godfrey a was mid-season transfer from Mississippi State that started 12 games during that 2022-23 season.
The desire to win was more important than finding a bigger role at a smaller school for Godfrey and her teammates. Dealing with the losses took a mental toll on the players, but Campbell was able to convince them that they wouldn’t have to deal with that type of emotional burden much longer.
“Losing game after game is tough mentally,” Turner said. “The toughest was just trying to push through each day and come to practice each day ready to work. But I’m glad I stuck through it.”
Turner signed with TCU in the Class of 2021 after starring at Village Christian Academy in Fayetteville, N.C. Turner opted to remain at TCU after Pebley’s firing because of Campbell and how much TCU reminded her of her small high school back home.
So what’s the biggest difference between this season and that 1-17 year? The Horned Frogs are much more talented with a roster that now features Hailey Van Lith, Sedona Prince and Madison Conner.
But it’s not just talent, there’s a different culture now in Fort Worth.
“I would say there’s definitely a shift in attention to detail,” Roberson said. “I feel like there’s more trusting the players. Mark puts a lot of trust in us and allows us to play our games within his game. There’s a lot of free play, it’s not as structured. That’s the main thing.”
Roberson is the only one who is still in the regular playing rotation as she’s become a stretch forward for the Horned Frogs this season. She started a game during the Big 12 Tournament and is a knockdown 3-point shooter.
“Aaliyah has blossomed in our system and style of play,” Campbell said. “Her role on that 1-17 team was tiny, close to zero. Now she’s a main contributor on one of the best teams in the country. Aaliyah has worked hard at her game, it’s been really fun to watch her blossom. Her confidence and belief in herself has grown each season.”
Regardless of how much each of them plays, Campbell expressed his appreciation for all three ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
“KG, Aaliyah and DaiJa, what they’ve seen here as student-athletes is rare and unique,” Campbell said. “To experience a 1-17 Big 12 journey and to now host March Madness and to win a league title and tournament championship. Talk about an awesome testament of enduring and grinding, especially in this era where it’s easy to tap out and move on.
“Those three kids are incredible young women that have been a huge part of our nucleus and culture. They brought a great spirit and maturity to our team. Those three are just as important as the big three.”
This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
