The Florida SouthWestern women’s basketball team has had a season to remember, led by first-year head coach Jamie Fisher. But the Buccaneers aren’t finished yet.
Their next challenge is a trip to Casper, Wyoming, for the NJCAA National Tournament — their first appearance since 2020.
From the very first practice, the Bucs had one mission: reaching nationals. Every day, they trained with their eyes on the prize, using the championship banners in their gym as motivation.
“That was our main goal starting the season,” said freshman guard Samantha Serrano.
Their hard work paid off. Despite falling short in the state tournament, FSW secured an at-large bid, officially punching their ticket to the national stage.
“Every single day, coach reminds us that we deserve to be up there,” said sophomore Asiana Britt. “We won the conference championship. We didn’t win state, but nationals — we’re coming. I promise.”
With their spot secured, the team has ramped up their preparation. Practices have intensified, and players have even trained wearing masks to simulate the thin air they’ll encounter in Wyoming.
"We've been doing practices with mask on," Britt said. "Crazy practices."
Fisher has made that trip before, leading Connors State to the NJCAA nationals in 2024. He understands the challenge that the altitude will bring but believes that his team is up for it and, more importantly, ready.
“I don’t know if you can simulate the feeling,” Fisher said. “But I think the pressure and struggle of breathing helps. More mentally than physically.”
Fisher’s first year at the helm has been defined simply by buying in. His players have embraced his coaching philosophy, and their belief in the system has propelled them to this moment.
“Did I think this would happen so fast? No,” Fisher said. “But credit the girls, credit the administration, credit my assistant. Everybody just bought in, and that makes a huge difference. Buy-in is everything.”
As they head to Wyoming, the Bucs are eager to prove they belong among the nation’s best.
“They say the experience is like a different world,” Britt said. “It’s a moment that you wouldn't not want to be there for real."
“Everybody wants it,” Serrano said. “Everybody’s going 100 percent, so I feel like as a team, we’re doing better, and we’re ready for this tournament.”
The 12th-seeded Buccaneers will face No. 21 seed Itawamba on Wednesday, March 26, at 4:30 p.m.