March 18, 2026, 4:29 p.m. ET
Arizona State is taking part in in the Women’s NCAA Tournament this week for the primary time in seven years after placing collectively a 24-10 general document beneath first-year head coach Molly Miller.
But when the Sun Devils arrived in Iowa City, Iowa forward of their First Four matchup with Virginia, Miller wasn’t with them.
An Arizona State spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that Miller is coping with an sickness and didn’t make the journey to Iowa City. The Sun Devils are hoping to have Miller there on Thursday for his or her event opener towards Virginia, which ideas off at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Arizona State affiliate head coach Stephanie Norman is dealing with the media duties on Wednesday that Miller would do, such because the pregame press convention in Iowa City.
Even although Miller will not be at the moment along with her gamers in Iowa, they nonetheless really feel her presence.
“Obviously we want Molly at everything that we do but at the same time, there’s not a drop-off when she’s not here. Our practices this week have been amazing and we’ve had great coaches that have stepped up and led the way for us,” Sun Devils senior guard Marley Washenitz mentioned. “And just because she’s not physically here with us doesn’t mean she’s not doing things behind the scenes. She’s been doing the scouting. She’s been up late watching film and she’s been communicating to us as well.”
Should Miller not be able to coach on Thursday, it seems likely that Norman would sit in the head coach’s chair, though Arizona State has not officially named an interim coach for the game as the Sun Devils remain optimistic that Miller can join them.
“It’s sort of a precarious situation because obviously our leader is not here and we’re hoping for the best so she can recover and be with our team. That’s kind of the status,” Norman mentioned Wednesday. “It’s hour to hour. I’m hoping she’s taking care of all of the things that she can in her power. We miss her dearly but at the same time, we have a job to do so we’re focused on that.”
Norman, 59, is an Arizona State graduate and has been around women’s college basketball for decades. She was previously the top lieutenant to Jeff Walz at Louisville from 2007 to 2025, helping the Cardinals make four trips to the Final Four. Before that, she was an assistant coach at Vanderbilt, Oregon State, Oregon and Hawaii, beginning her coaching career back in 1990.
Last April, Norman left Louisville to join Miller in rebuilding Arizona State. In their first year together, the Sun Devils improved their win total by 14, which is the third largest improvement in the nation behind LIU and McNeese, and the largest win improvement amongst Power 4 programs.
“I had a lot to learn in terms of her terminology and the way she wanted to do things. It has been really fun for me, even after all these years,” Norman mentioned of working with Miller. “It all stems from her. From that waterfall she pours out to all of us and we all toe the line when it comes to our intensity and intention on the defensive side of the ball.”
Miller was beforehand the top coach at Grand Canyon the place she went 117-38 in 5 seasons and took the Lopes to their first Division I NCAA Tournament final 12 months. She was one of many premier candidates on the teaching carousel final 12 months and was pursued by at the least two SEC packages earlier than finally taking the job with the Sun Devils.
Arizona State was one of many final 4 groups to make the NCAA Tournament subject this season. Should the Sun Devils win on Thursday, they’ll face No. 7 Georgia on Saturday.
