Women's Basketball: Lopez selected for WeCOACH NCAA Women's Coaches Academy

BETHANY, W.Va. – Bethany College Head Women's Basketball Coach Mikayla Lopez has been selected to attend the 2023 WeCOACH NCAA Women's Coaches Academy (WCA) from May 21 to 23 in Denver, Colo.

"I am incredibly honored and excited to not only grow as an individual and a coach, but also to be surrounded by so many inspiring strong women all trying to make a difference in female athletics," says Lopez.

The WeCOACH NCAA WCA is a program designed for women coaches to elevate their holistic coaching effectiveness by learning advanced leadership skills and strategies that directly affect their personal and team success. Participants focus on non-sport-specific concepts in an environment that fosters inclusion across the sports community.

More than 2,100 graduates have participated in the WeCOACH NCAA WCA, with 2023 marking its 20th anniversary. A total of 102 coaches are participating in this year's WCA, representing all three NCAA divisions, as well as NAIA, community colleges and the U.S. national team.

Highlighting this year's WCA is keynote speaker Dawn Staley, head women's basketball coach at the University of South Carolina. A two-time NCAA national champion coach, Staley is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and has won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA as a player and one Olympic gold medal as the U.S. team's head coach.

Lopez completed her first season as the women's basketball coach at Bethany College. She led her squad to a 9-17 (9-11 PAC) record and a trip to the PAC Tournament. The Bison fell to PAC Tournament champions, Saint Vincent College, in the quarterfinals.

Founded in 2011, WeCOACH is a nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches in all sports and levels throughout professional growth and leadership development programs.