Less than 24 hours after reaching the NCAA Division II championship game for the first time in program history, a weary Western Washington University’s women’s basketball team returned to a campus welcome they never expected.
About 100 fans and family greeted their Bellingham police-escorted charter bus from Sea-Tac a little after 5 p.m. Saturday following a day-long, cross-country trip from Birmingham, Alabama, where the Vikings lost to Glenville (West Virginia) State in the title game, 85-72.
When the bus turned the corner and players caught sight of fans standing on the sidewalk wearing team blue, holding signs and waving blue-and-white pom-poms, they were stunned.
“We were surprised and just shocked,” said senior point guard Dani Iwami, whose season-ending injury in January transformed her into the team’s top supporter and student coach.
“When we were on the bus we were like, ‘Well, we know for sure the five people who are giving us rides will be coming, so at least five people have to be there.’ But to see this many people? We were getting nervous. We were like, ‘How does our hair look?’ We were all putting on Chapstick because it’s been a rough travel day.”
The team last played in front of a home crowd Feb. 22. That was before everything changed with a fairy-tale postseason. The Vikings went 2-1 in the conference tournament, played in Lacey, then earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Division II tournament in Hayward, California before advancing to the Elite Eight and Final Four in Birmingham. They upset four of five opponents in the NCAA tournament and found themselves playing on national TV for a title.
On Saturday, supporters gathered in the parking lot near the campus recreation center, where university representatives handed out sugar cookies with blue and white sprinkles, Viking helmet hats and “Welcome Home!” signs, and even set up a Vikings-themed cornhole game.
Among the attendees were Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood, Western president Sabah Randhawa and his wife Uzma Ahmad, who traveled to Birmingham for the week. Coach Carmen Dolfo and players spoke near the tent, thanking everyone for coming.
“We’re all a little bit sad last night didn’t turn out the way we wanted,” Dolfo told the crowd. “I know that when the dust settles” they’ll appreciate even more what they did. “We’re so proud of these women. It was an amazing ride we had.”
Emma Duff, the senior guard and team star named to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight All-tournament team with sophomore forward Brooke Walling, said the gathering was an eye-opener.
“Being on the road we didn’t really know how many people were supporting us,” she said. “Being here and seeing this is really special.”
The bus arrived about 45 minutes later than expected, but even on a gray day turning colder by the minute, no one was complaining.
Reed Chesnek, Emma Clark and Paige Donner, freshman members of the perennial national-title-winning Western rowing team, have been gathering with rowers to watch games at a teammate’s house.
“We just wanted to come out and support them again,” said Donner. “We’ve been doing it all week.”
When Western won its semifinal Wednesday to reach the title game, “There was lots of screaming,” she said.
Sophia and Lily Gage, daughters of WWU 2005-09 basketball player David Gage, were standing with their parents on the sidewalk when the bus pulled up. They could see themselves in Western starting sisters Avery and Riley Dykstra of Everson. The Gages play for Bellingham’s Boys and Girls Club teams and have been watching Western’s games.
“I liked how hard they worked,” said Lily, 8. “I liked seeing them celebrate when they won.”
“We could someday be as good if we try,” said Sophia, 10.
A short distance away, Mel Gimmaka’s 6-foot-3 frame, which helped carry his Seattle Pacific University team to the NCAA Elite Eight 57 years ago, was practically bursting with pride. His granddaughter, Western forward Katrina Gimmaka from Everson, had done him one better. The night before the team left, Mel gave Katrina his Elite Eight medal and a piece of the net he snipped way back then. “She probably thinks it’s trash because she went to the Final Four,” joshed Mel.
Not a chance.
“I don’t know if it fully hit us,” Katrina Gimmaka said. “We keep telling ourselves we can’t be that disappointed. We just made history, going down to Alabama, first [Western] team ever to go to the national championship. It was unfortunate it went the way it did. But we couldn’t ask for anything better. It was great. Great time.”
The team bus trip was the last ride for seniors Iwami, Duff and Gracie Castaneda. Duff and Castaneda played more games in a Viking uniform (126) than anyone in the 51-year history of the program.
Western was limited by COVID-19 to just eight home games this season, two of which were played in a Carver Gymnasium without spectators. All this made Saturday’s final homecoming, with all those people waiting to celebrate a remarkable season with them, an emotional one.
“Honestly,” said Iwami, “it just lightens all of us up. It really brings it full circle. Last night wasn’t how we wanted it, but this is so special. It’s so much bigger than ourselves.”