On April 5, Chico State’s Acker Gym awoke from a nearly 13-month slumber, as the sounds of basketballs bouncing off the floor, the swish of the basket’s nylon netting, and the hollers of a handful of excited Wildcat women’s basketball players highlighted the team’s long-awaited return to in-person workouts. Among those happy to be back on the hardwood is junior forward Haley Ison, who figures to be one of the key components to the team’s success in the upcoming 2021–22 season. Her importance to Chico State’s chemistry both on and off the court makes Ison the latest Wildcat of the Week.
“I cannot believe I’m back in this gym,” Ison said. “The team had heard from (Chico State Director of Athletics Anita Barker) that it was a full year and 23 days since we’d been in the gym, so we are all pretty stoked. It feels amazing, and we’re all just super happy that we can be together again.”
Like Chico State’s 12 other NCAA-sanctioned sports programs, the women’s basketball team has been granted a five-week window to engage in guided strength and conditioning workouts and sport skill instruction. The players work out in small groups, referred to as “pods,” with COVID-19 protocols prohibiting full team practices as well as team scrimmages or intersquad games. And even though the players have to adhere to safety requirements like wearing masks and allowing for physical distancing, Ison and her Wildcat teammates still feel like Christmas has come early.
“It felt overwhelming, but in a really good way,” she said of the team’s return to Acker Gym. “There is a lot of enthusiasm and excitement for the rest of the five weeks we have this spring.
“We’re mostly doing conditioning and skills work. We can’t do too much offense and defense where we play against each other, so it’s more about working on our individual skills.”
Ever the competitor, Ison successfully navigated her way through 12 months without Chico State basketball. But it wasn’t easy.
“It’s been really tough,” Ison said. “It’s kind of like your whole life has been ripped out from under you. It’s been a huge culture shock. (Being away from the game) made me realize that basketball is a huge part of my life; I need it to keep me going. It’s my escape when things maybe aren’t going so well. I really missed it a lot.”
While waiting for the day she could return to the court, Ison made sure to stay productive during the pandemic.
“I definitely got a lot more into my schoolwork,” she said. “It almost feels like it’s taken over. I’ve been focused on my studies, and working to keep my grades up.”
It’s not like the psychology major was overlooking her studies prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. Ison has twice earned California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Academic honors, and was the recipient of the 2019–20 Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award.
Though sidelined by the pandemic, Ison was still able to connect to basketball—this time as a keen observer.
“Watching basketball and seeing some of the Division I schools play on TV helped a lot,” she said. “It helped me figure out what I needed to work on when I got back in the gym.”
Ison’s dedication to the team and improving her game comes as no surprise to Wildcats assistant women’s basketball coach Meghan de los Reyes.
“Haley is an outstanding example to everyone around her,” de los Reyes said. “She is the type of person who, when she commits to something, she is all-in. She gives her best every day and to every drill, assignment, or any other task or responsibility thrown her way. She puts so much time and energy into maintaining the high standards she has for herself, but what is truly special about Haley is how she constantly checks on her teammates. She asks them about their day, their studies, how things are going, and she offers her help and guidance whenever and however it is needed.”
The Wildcats will be relying heavily this fall on Ison’s leadership skills in addition to her statistical contributions on the court. The Southern California native enjoyed her best season as a collegiate player in 2019–20, averaging nearly seven points a game and finishing second on the team in rebounding, snaring just under five boards a contest. The season was highlighted by a career-high 24-point scoring performance January 23, 2020 against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
“I remember it was a regular (pre-game) shootaround,” Ison said of her breakout game. “But when my first two shots went in, I knew it was going to be a different game. The defense was giving me open shots every time, so coach (Brian) Fogel started telling everyone to get me the ball at the top of the free throw line and see what happens.”
Ison ended up hitting 11 field goals on the night while also grabbing 10 rebounds to post the first double-double of her college career.
“That was the game where I told myself ‘I can do this. I can play at the D-II level’,” Ison said. “It got me really excited, and I proved to myself that I could get better and better.”
“Haley is focused, always striving to improve, and gives her best effort,” de los Reyes concurs. “She leads by example every day in numerous ways simply by how she leads her own life on and off the court. Haley is a remarkable young woman with a top-notch work ethic, and she is truly an invaluable asset to our team.”
In preparation for returning to play, Ison has stayed in shape by doing home workouts with weights, hitting the blacktop to work on her shooting and ball-handling skills, and doing some training with one of her old club basketball coaches. About a week-and-a-half before reconvening in Acker Gym, Ison and some of her teammates were able to squeeze in some open gym workouts.
“We’re definitely not game-ready,” Ison admits. “It’s challenging to stay in basketball shape, because we haven’t had access to the facilities. But we’re in a place where we can be ready to play games in the fall.”
In addition to treating herself to an assortment of Quentin Tarantino movies during the pandemic, Ison took some time early this year to experience something she’d only done twice before: skydiving.
“I went again in February for the first time in three years,” Ison said. “The first time I went was on my 18th birthday, and the second time was my aunt’s birthday.
“The first time and the third time, I wasn’t nervous. But the second time I was. I was like, ‘Wow, am I really going to do this again?’ But by the third time, I convinced myself I know how it goes, and I wanted to do some different things. I did some spins and flips with my tandem partner…we actually backflipped out of the plane.”
Ison has two years of athletic eligibility remaining, and as of now she plans to use them both.
“I’m really interested in stayng in Chico for my graduate program,” Ison said. “So that’s kind of what I’m leaning towards.”
For the time being, though, Ison’s focus is squarely on making the most of the Wildcats’ current five-week workout window, and starting to prepare for the upcoming Chico State basketball season. She’s anxious to create a positive chemistry with her returning teammates and the incoming freshmen that she hasn’t played with until now.
“Three of the four freshmen are here in Chico and they’re all in my pod group, and it’s been great getting to finally work with them,” Ison said. “I think Chico is one of only four schools to get any gym time at all (this spring), so I think that gives us a huge advantage for the 2021–22 season.
“It’s a really good feeling having the team back together. It makes me super excited about getting to play again in the fall. I’m really looking forward to getting back into competition. It’s a lot different playing against people as opposed to just working on your skills. It’s a lot more fun to get out there and put your skills to the test.”
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