Devin Coppinger Showing Impact as Starter With Washington Huskies

SEATTLE — The No. 16 Washington Huskies women's basketball team is off to a solid start to the season.

The Huskies entered this weekend 2-0 on the season after a 79-63 victory against the UC San Diego Tritons in their season opener Nov. 2 and a 75-54 win against the Pacific Tigers on Nov. 5.

Entering the season, there was a lot of hype for Washington, particularly focused on their returning all-conference honorees from last season: senior guard Sayvia Sellers, junior guard Avery Howell and sophomore forward Brynn McGaughy.

So far all three players have met the call. The trio have all scored in double-figures in the team's first two games, respectively.

In addition to the attention paid towards Sellers, there was expectation that several of the team's newcomers would make an impact in starting roles. North Carolina State transfer and 6-foot-6 junior forward Tilda Trygger has been one of those players and has started both games alongside the aforementioned trio, but the fifth starter on the team has been someone who's been on Montlake for several years.

Junior guard Devin Coppinger was a part of the team's starting five in their season opener and again in the win against Pacific. They were the first two starts of her college career.

Coppinger was an in-state recruit in the Class of 2024 from Nooksack Valley High School in Everson, Wash. — 103 miles north of Seattle.

The 5-foot-10 guard was an immediate role player off the bench and played in 63 games her first two seasons, but didn't average more than 18 minutes or 3.8 points per contest, which both came in her sophomore season.

Coppinger spent her first two seasons learning under head coach Tina Langley and is now capable of performing a variety of roles for the team, which led to her being named a starter.

That impact was on display against the Tigers. She finished the night with 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting from the floor (1-for-4 from 3-point range), had three rebounds and five steals.

Through the first two games of the season, Coppinger is averaging 7.5 points and shooting 50% from the field on 26 minutes per game.

"I would just say Devin works really hard," Sellers said in a postgame interview Thursday at Alaska Airlines Arena. "I think she always tries to do the right thing, she takes coaching well. So, I think Devin just genuinely does whatever the team needs. If we need her at guard — like tonight, she had five steals. Usually she's getting on the glass for (offensive rebounds). She just does whatever the team needs. ... (When) she's open, (she's) shooting the ball, being confident in that. And then, obviously on the defensive end, just trying to do whatever she can to disrupt the defense. I love playing with Devin."

Coppinger will have an opportunity to continue to show her capabilities as a starter as the season goes on. UW will next be in action against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners at 7 p.m. PT on Nov. 12 at Alaska Airlines Arena.