Last weekend the women’s basketball team hosted its annual alumni game.

An alumni game is when all the former players come back to play each other and watch the current team play.

This year there was different. There was not enough former players who wanted to take part in getting sweaty and playing against all the other alums so there was no actual alumni game.

Instead, the former players were given a tour of the campus and all met back at the gym to watch the current players take on Central Arkansas.

For current ACU players the alumni game is an exciting opportunity to meet past players who set the standard high of Wildcat success.

Julie Goodenough, head coach of the women’s basketball team, said seeing the former players shows current players how long these friendships will last.

“Some of the former players are now booster club members and others are serving as prayer warriors for our team,” Goodenough said. “My hope is that the alumni relationships can help our current players understand that what they are doing everyday on our team is preparing them for their life beyond basketball and ACU.”

18 former players came back to Moody Coliseum for the alumni game.

Three of those players were coached by Goodenough while the other 15 played before Goodenough was hired as head coach.

Alexis Mason, former guard was one of the women that came back. She was apart of the 1,000 point club and broke school records.

Mason said coming back to see her former team play was special to her.

“I played under Coach Goodenough all four years and played with four of the girls that are currently on the team now,” Mason said. “It is such a special feeling knowing that even though I am gone I am still welcomed with open arms every time I come back.”

After the game a reception was held for all the players and alumni to get to talk and share stories about the times here at ACU.

Brea Wright, starting point guard for the Wildcats said the warmth she felt from past players was something unbelievable.

“It was a really cool experience knowing that there is a sense of community after basketball is over,” Wright said. “Seeing that there is something that is bigger than just winning games was super exciting for me. I love the players on my team and knowing that I will be apart of their lives for the long haul is something so rewarding to me.”

As Goodenough said, “once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.”