The trajectory is there but now more than ever in college sports, especially as a mid-major, it takes tons of work to maintain it.

“Always adjusting and growing, and trying to learn and adapt,” she said.

After two seasons, though, Jackson says she’s feeling confident in the program’s future.

“Coming into a new school, new environment, there’s a lot of learning. … Everything’s brand new, and that took time,” Jackson said. “For a little while, it definitely felt like we were in a whirlwind, trying to constantly play catch up. I feel like we’re in a much better place now where it does feel like we have two feet on the ground. We’re stable.

“I definitely feel more prepared,” she continued. “I feel like I know the conference really well. I know the level of play. I have a much better grip on our group, where we’re at, things that I want to adjust and modify going into next season to make us even more successful.”

She’s leaning on that feeling of settled stability in an offseason that leaves the Wildcats up to seven scholarships available to rebuild for the 2025-26 season.

First, Jackson had to say goodbye to three senior guards who trusted her as a new head coach over her first two years in Kennedy Eskelson, Kendra Parra and Rita Satini, plus the one year she had with BYU transfer wing Rose Bubakar.

Second, all-Big Sky first team player Taylor Smith is out to the transfer portal.

Third, freshman and rotation forward Mata Peaua is leaving the program to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as is two-year shooting guard Amanda Edwards, who redshirted her first season and appeared in eight games in 2024-25.

Two seniors in sharpshooter Lanae Billy and star rebounder Antoniette Emma-Nnopu anchor the roster early in the offseason. Jackson said Billy — the nation’s No. 6 3-point shooter last season at 45.6% — may display a tougher-to-guard offensive game next year now that she’s used to Division I.

Emma-Nnopu provides a never-ending toughness, while Japrix Stubbs, entering her fourth season of college basketball after suffering a knee injury last year, will give versatility and leadership as a guard/wing.

Dakota Nap returns as a second-year guard/wing who played in WSU’s short rotation last season. Three freshmen are set for their first action after redshirting and bring diverse skillsets; Vanna Quintana is a true point guard, Jackson says, who’s ready to run an offense, while Fui Niumeitolu and Maya Davis have the potential to create matchup problems for opponents.

Arizana Peaua will fill in for her departing sister. The 6-foot-1 elder Peaua returned from missionary service and joined WSU during the 2024-25 season. She has three seasons of eligibility left and Jackson says she shares some of Mata’s post-play strength with perhaps a little more guard-like abilities.

The rest of the building process is well underway. The Wildcats hosted four players on official visits this week and Jackson said, with the six-player returning group of sophomores and freshmen, the focus is mostly on transfer portal and junior college players.

Two such players are already in the fold. Montana State’s 6-foot guard Hannah Robbins has publicly announced her commitment while junior college player Celeste Segretain, a 6-foot wing/forward, is officially signed.

Segretain, from France, spent one season at Sacramento State before playing the 2024-25 campaign at Eastern Arizona College.

More new additions will be known soon as the Wildcats try to take the next step in Big Sky contention.

“We’re really grounded now and I think it showed this year with the improvements we were able to make. And I also feel like we’ve gotten to a really good place with the type of kids we have here,” Jackson said. “Our recruits that we’re bringing in really just fit Weber, our system, the way we want to be and the way we want to play really well.

“So, it definitely feels like every single day, every month, we’re just getting more and more settled into figuring out what we need to do — what’s working, what’s not working — and always working to be better so that we can contend for championships.”