For the past several years, CSUDH women’s basketball has been one of the top programs in the nation. Under former head coach John Bonner, the Toros advanced to two Final Fours in three years, including a run to the national title game in 2024-25. They also boasted the 2025 Division II National Player of the Year in Nala Williams.
After the success of the past few years, Coach Bonner moved south to head up the Fullerton State program. Several players transferred, including Williams, who is expected to star for San Diego State this season. The result is a CSUDH squad full of promising young players that will have to grow and develop during the course of the upcoming season.
Stepping in to helm the program is Interim Head Coach Nautica Morrow. A former Toro player under Bonner, Morrow brings real confidence to the job—despite having only been involved in coaching for two seasons before landing it.
“I don’t know anyone better for the job,” says Morrow. “I think it’s really important that I was a recent student-athlete, so I can relate to what the players are going through and help them navigate that lifestyle. I’m honored to be able to give back to a school and a program that has meant so much to me.”
Morrow played for the Toros from 2017 to 2019, when she graduated with a BS in criminal science. As a player, she earned All-CCAA First Team honors and was named CSUDH Female Athlete of the Year twice.
After graduating, Morrow went into criminal justice, the field she had studied and planned for. She worked as a mental health therapist at the Twin Towers and Men’s Central Jails in Los Angeles and was in the process of becoming a mediator in Long Beach courts. All along, she continued to stay in touch with Coach Bonner and the team.
“I was coming to games, trying to see how I could give back to the young women who were once in my shoes,” she says. “One day, my mentor, Coach Bonner, presented me with the opportunity to come back to campus as an assistant. I took a leap of faith, joined the squad, and I’ve been loving every bit of it.”
Morrow, who recently completed her master’s degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding at CSUDH, feels that she brings a little something extra to her role due to her background.
“I feel like I’m intertwining my skills,” she says. “When I came up as an athlete, nobody really cared about mental health or the world outside the gym. I’m trying to find out who I can be for them outside of basketball? They’re not just student-athletes. They have their own identities, they’re all from different walks of life. It’s really about being a mentor for them.”
Morrow understands the pressure that comes with replacing a wildly successful coach like Bonner. “I’ve clearly got big shoes to fill,” she says. “But this isn’t last year. This is a whole new team.”
She says that just as under Bonner, her Toro squad will continue to prioritize high-pressure defense. On the offensive side, she plans to let the players loose a bit more, with fewer structured plays and more freedom.
“I let the players freestyle a little bit more,” Morrow explains. “While we have our sets and plays, I don’t want our women to feel boxed in. It’s important for everyone to have versatility on the court. When players can operate in multiple positions, they become harder to guard. Coach Bonner also believes that guards and forwards should be versatile, but he takes a more analytical approach, as well.”
With such a young and untested roster, Morrow knows that this season will have its share of growing pains. “For me, a successful year will be finishing the season above .500. I definitely want to make the CCAA playoffs, so that’s also a big goal. Clearly, I want us to reach as far as we can, but hitting those two marks will let me know that I’m doing a good job.”
Morrow is excited for fans to check out the new team and wants students to see the players as true members of the Toro Community. “Not only are we a basketball team, we’re very heavily involved on campus. We’re very supportive of other student groups—in order for them to support us, we have to support them.”
While the team may not reach the heights of the past few seasons, Morrow is sure of one thing. “We are going to compete. We play really hard. The competitiveness is there. They work really hard. I think we have a fairly young team, but it’s a great group.”
“We have the potential to be really good. It’s a little early right now, but I see a great future for our team.”
The CSUDH women’s basketball team opens their home schedule against Westmont College (Calif.) at the Torodome on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 3 PM.
