(Photo: Nicole Hernandez/WCSN)
Senior forward Sophie Brunner has been the bread and butter for ASU women’s basketball.
This week may be bitter sweet for the senior, as Brunner will play her final regular-season games at Well Fargo Arena rounding out against No.12 UCLA on Sunday.
The senior forward will go down in the record books, as she is currently No. 2 on the programs all-time list in career rebounds and No.8 in career points.
Head coach Charli Turner Thorne mentioned it’s hard to even measure how valuable Brunner has been to the program.
“Well I don’t know if I can articulate that into two or three sentences,” Thorne said. “She has been one of the all time great players in the history of ASU women’s basketball. On top of that she’s a unbelievable ambassador for our program, she is the most humble, hardworking, giving young lady you will ever meet.”
Brunner is on track to making the conference team for a third straight year, which has only been accomplished by former Sun Devil Emily Westerberg.
The super star forward and her team are preparing themselves for a emotional weekend. This weekend is important for NCAA Tournament seeding and the team wants to be operating on all cylinders as the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Championships are next week in Seattle, Washington.
The senior forward played her high school hoops in Freeport, Illinois at Aquin High School. While at Aquin, Brunner was named the AP’s All-State First Team twice, after helping he team win back-to-back Class 1A State Girls Basketball titles. The school decided to cement her legacy by retiring her No.21 jersey.
Coach Turner Thorne also alluded to how great Brunner has been at the collegiate level.
“She has been one of the all time great players in the history of ASU women’s basketball,” Thorne said. “She’s a unbelievable young lady and I feel absolute bless to have her here and to be able to coach her. She’s at least in my 20 years one of the best.”
