Learning How To Win

Dealing with multiple injuries on the Gonzaga women’s basketball team, head coach Lisa Fortier asked her colleague, Gonzaga women’s soccer head coach Chris Watkins, in probably a joking manner, if he had any players to spare who can play basketball. 

Whether her intentions were in jest or not, Watkins provided help for his fellow Zag head coach. 

Members of the Bulldog soccer team enjoy playing intramural basketball during the offseason, and numerous Zags had mentioned to Watkins that then-freshman forward Giana Riley was also stellar on the basketball court. 

A call to Riley from women’s basketball assistant coach Craig Fortier, a mini recruiting call in nature, resulted in Riley trying out with the roster-depleted Gonzaga basketball team. 

“It was a little intimidating because their season had already started,” Riley said. “Everyone else already knew each other and were close, but they were all really welcoming, and that made it easier than I thought it would be.”

Entrusted with full support from Watkins, he encouraged Riley to look at this opportunity with the intentions of learning how to win in an environment that was unfamiliar to her, almost disadvantageous. 

“I told her to  try to learn how to manipulate every scenario for a win in basketball,” Watkins said. “I think that worked. It made Giana a better player for us now during this season.”

Everything has been better this season for Gonzaga women’s soccer, a team that is currently receiving votes in the latest national poll. One of the nation’s best high-octane offenses, the Zags set program single-season records for goals, assists and points in last week’s 5-2 win at Pacific. 

A native of Manteca, Calif., Riley has been an instrumental part of this offensive firepower. She currently paces her squad with 24 points and is tied for the team lead with nine goals. 

“She has great speed,” Watkins said. “She’s smart and really understands the game well, and she knows where to be. As soon as we get the ball back, she gets herself in a good position and can finish really well. She’s well-composed, super athletic. She has a lot of the pieces that you need to be a great goal scorer.”

Riley agrees with Watkins that her experience playing hoops last season has contributed to her success this season in soccer. She was a multi-sport athlete while at John C. Kimball High School, so the quick transition itself wasn’t anything new for her. Soccer season had been over for about two weeks before she joined the basketball team, so there was ample rest time. 

Part of the learning to win, though, came from the differences in how Riley approaches each sport. She said in soccer it’s all about what you see on the field, but in basketball, you have to learn plays. Riley admitted that learning the plays was a little difficult. 

“My drive to win has increased; I’ve never liked losing,” Riley said. “The learning to win, that helped me, finding new ways to win when you’re not the best player on the court or field.”

During basketball season, Riley maintained all of her offseason responsibilities with soccer. She attended every spring practice. Watkins said he and his coaching staff would discuss how hard to push her based off what the Gonzaga basketball practice schedule looked like. While she never complained about the double workload, there were some days when everything took a physical toll on her for obvious reasons. Watkins commended Riley for her about to manage everything from both the physical and mental demands. 

Playing time was limited in actual game action for Riley, as her purpose was more to assist with needs during practice, but she still saw action in nine games, and she got on the stat sheets by recording two total blocks. Riley’s determination and hard work aided a Gonzaga women’s basketball team that competed in last year’s NCAA Tournament. 

The connection also forged a stronger bond between the programs. As Watkins put it, the soccer team all became a little more boisterous as Gonzaga women’s basketball fans, rooting for Riley at all the home games. That support has been reciprocated this season. Riley said during soccer games this fall she hears members of the basketball team in the stands shouting her name. 

In addition to her drive and commitment, Watkins also enjoys coaching Riley for the type of person she is. 

“She’s really easy to talk to,” Watkins said. “She sits up at the front of the bus with us coaches. Her future is really bright. She’s one of those kids that you bet on for the future.” 

Upcoming in the immediate future for Riley and Gonzaga is a tough test on national television this Sunday. The Zags host No. 14 and three-time defending WCC Champion Santa Clara in Spokane Sunday at noon on ESPNU. Both teams are currently in a three-way tie for first place with Pepperdine, so the Zags’ offense will have an opportunity to separate itself from the pack in the WCC on Sunday.