Ashlyn Peterson, a first-year point guard, is making her mark in Whitworth athletics. Peterson was named the 2024-25 Rookie of the Year by the All-NWC list and had an impressive first year at the collegiate level with a scoring average of 14.4 points per game.
Peterson describes her journey to basketball, stating, “I started playing basketball, like four years old, and my dad was my coach, like, growing up till, like probably fifth grade, and then I joined a club team”. However, Peterson explained basketball wasn’t her first choice. “I started to like it a lot, but I really liked soccer more. I ended up breaking my ankle, so I decided to pursue basketball instead, and I just had the right coaches to help me get to the next level. My dad loved basketball … I decided to pursue the sport”
Peterson credits much of her success in the sport to the mentorship of her old coach, who has been a pivotal influence in her career. “He’s like a second dad to me,” Ashlyn said. Peterson explained that he has been instrumental in shaping her work ethic and mindset, with Ashlyn noting that without his support, she might not have reached this level in basketball. “He’s always been there for me,” she shared.
Many student-athletes can struggle with the transition from high school to the collegiate level, but Peterson is adjusting well. “I’ve played up with older girls since my freshman year,” Ashlyn shared. “The biggest challenge was probably the 40 minutes, and playing the whole 40 versus, like, 36,” she explained, adding that the size of the court and the physical demands were noticeable. Peterson also turns to her faith for strength in this transition, stating, “Putting my faith first helps with everything.”
With her position, Peterson has taken on the responsibility of being a leader on the court. “As a point guard, you have to know all the spots,” she said. Peterson explains, “You’re pretty much the coach on the court”. Even though Peterson is new to collegiate basketball, she explains that she leads on the court with optimism and ambition, despite a difficult season.
In her future seasons with the program, Peterson wants to improve her finishing ability against larger defenders and improve her three-point shooting. She also acknowledges that while success this season may not come as easily, for a team full of freshmen, she is focused on long-term growth and improvement. “Next year, I’m pretty confident we’ll be set up for success,” she added.
Peterson’s journey with basketball has been marked by strong mentorship, a positive mindset, and ambition. As she continues her basketball career at Whitworth, she is striving to be the best version of herself both on and off the court. Whitworth women’s basketball finished the 2024-25 season with an overall 8-17 record and a 5-11 record in conference.
