Arizona State University has shaken up its women’s basketball program by hiring Molly Miller as its new head coach, a move announced shortly after parting ways with Natasha Adair on March 8. Miller, 38, comes to Tempe fresh off a stellar five-year stint at Grand Canyon University, where she turned the Lopes into a winning machine. She compiled a 117-38 record, capped by a 32-3 season that included a 30-game winning streak and Grand Canyon’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. In this year’s March Madness, the Lopes won the WAC regular-season and tournament titles, but fell in the first round to Baylor, 73-60.

Now, Miller has her sights set on resurrecting a Sun Devils team that stumbled to a 10-22 record last season – 3-15 in Big 12 play – and hasn’t seen the NCAA Tournament since 2019. With her knack for building winners, Arizona State fans are excited about what’s to come.

Harden Steps Up for the Sun Devils

James Harden, an Arizona State legend turned NBA superstar, wasted no time in showing his support for Miller. Within hours of her hiring going public, he fired off a social media post welcoming her to the Sun Devil family. It’s not the first time Harden has had his alma mater’s back – he’s been a major player in the school’s NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) efforts, pumping money into basketball programs to lure top talent.

Last year, he reportedly dropped serious money to help the men’s team land five-star recruit Jayden Quaintance, though that gamble hasn’t paid off yet. Still, Harden is not backing down. His support of Miller and her vision for the women’s team proves he’s committed to seeing Arizona State rise in the ranks of college hoops. With NIL deals reshaping recruiting, having a deep-pocketed alum like Harden-who’s banked $372 million in NBA earnings-gives the Sun Devils a legit edge.

Harden’s Journey: From Tempe to NBA Greatness

Before he was breaking ankles and draining step-back threes in the NBA, James Harden was lighting it up at Arizona State. Over two seasons (2007-2009), he averaged 19 points per game and led the Sun Devils to the 2009 NCAA Tournament, cementing himself as the best player to ever come out of the program. The Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the third overall pick in the 2009 draft, and from there, Harden’s career took off like a rocket. He won NBA Sixth Man of the Year, helped OKC reach the NBA Finals (2012), won the MVP award in 2018, racked up 11 All-Star nods, and etched his name in the record books with feats like scoring 60 points as part of a triple-double, the only player in NBA history.

At 35, there is no doubt that he has only this season and next to look for his long-awaited title. Currently the Clippers are doing well, seventh in the West, but the roster is made up of veteran players and along with a healthy Kawhi Leonard (33) Harden must take advantage of his two remaining years with the Clippers to win his first title, easier said than done.

Now he’s channeling that success back to Arizona State, using his wealth and influence to boost the Sun Devils. With Miller coaching and Harden cheering from the sidelines, the women’s team could be on the cusp of something special, which is why they brought Miller in the first place.