One of the most decorated players in Oregon State women’s basketball history is returning to the school in a new capacity.
Sydney Wiese, who helped lead the Beavers to their only Final Four appearance in 2016, has accepted an offer to become an assistant coach. Wiese, 29, fills one of the two openings as Jonas Chatterton (Oklahoma) and Aleah Goodman (Washington) left for jobs other schools.
Wiese is retiring – with a caveat -- from a professional playing career that includes five years in the WNBA, and overseas stops in six different countries, the most recent in Turkey. Wiese was cut by the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun prior to the start of the 2024 season.
Wiese had no intention of retiring a month ago, but she began to feel a pull from a school where she was a star for four years. During her Oregon State career that ended in 2017, Wiese was a four-time all-Pac-12 honoree, became a third-team All American as a senior, and was the 11th overall pick of the 2017 WNBA draft.
Wiese said she’s “stayed connected” with Oregon State and the coaching staff during her playing career. Since leaving Connecticut, Wiese has lived in Phoenix, resting a troublesome knee while talking to her agent about playing opportunities overseas. A conversation with OSU coach Scott Rueck led to more discussion and a potential career pivot. Wiese came to Corvallis recently to work a basketball camp. Eventually, there was an offer to join the coaching staff.
“Perfect timing,” Wiese said. “As I took my time to process it, it just became more and more evident that this is exactly where I want to head … helping at the camp, that definitely solidified that I love the opportunity of being back in a place that I genuinely love.”
Wiese said there was a lot of prayer regarding the decision, because until a few weeks ago, continuing a playing career was the goal.
“I just didn’t feel connected to any of the playing options, for whatever reason,” Wiese said. “I’m very familiar with Corvallis and the women’s basketball program in many ways. I feel in my heart that I can easily stand behind (this decision).”
Wiese couldn’t say with certainty that she’s finished playing basketball.
“It’s sort of a cop out to be like, yeah, I going to leave the door open, but that’s not how I’m approaching this at all. But at the same time, I can’t say never. You never know what opportunities are going to present themselves,” Wiese said. “But I can say, my heart is all in with this opportunity. If I am done playing, I have peace with that. I am cool with my career. I am grateful for it.”
Wiese has a brief coaching career, though not in college. While rehabbing a knee injury in 2022, Wiese coached at an Arizona prep school for most of a year. Her father, Troy, is a long time high school and middle school coach.
“I learned through that, that coaching was something I would definitely love to revisit whenever I was done playing,” Wiese said.
In joining OSU’s coaching staff, Wiese is reunited with former Beaver teammate Deven Hunter. Wiese and Hunter played for three seasons at OSU. They’ve maintained a friendship since their college playing days.
“It’s really cool to be in a seat next to her, and coach Rueck,” Wiese said.
--Nick Daschel can be reached at 360-607-4824, ndaschel@oregonian.com or @nickdaschel.
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