Growing With the Women’s B-Ball Program

For the last four years, section 104 has been a source of inspiration for Wichita State’s Ella Anciaux. Whether she was starting games or getting limited minutes, the same seats in section 104 were taken. 

“Being able to look across from the bench and see my family in section 104 every single game without fail, and going to see them after the game has really carried me through,” Anciaux said. “The level of pride and support that they have in me has instilled that, no matter what was happening, they were going to be there no matter what.” 

Anciaux’s path in collegiate basketball has been hard-fought. The senior center earned looks from top programs as a high school basketball standout at Kapaun Mount Carmel, where she became the number three prospect in the state of Kansas according to the “World Exposure Report.”

She earned some minutes during her freshman and sophomore years at WSU, but it wasn’t until late in her junior year that she cemented a more regular spot in the starting lineup. Through it all, Anciaux’s hard work and support system carried her. 

‘Big Sister Energy’

Anciaux is the oldest of six children — a big sister in her family and on her team. As a senior who has played her entire collegiate career at Wichita State, Anciaux is embodying those big sister traits on the team — being a voice in the locker room, providing advice for her teammates, offering rides or help in other ways off the court. 

“I think growing up being the oldest of six kids, the big sister energy is kind of naturally within me, it’s part of my character,” Anciaux said. “I feel like that’s how you build a culture on a team is by creating that family atmosphere where people are willing to help each other and sacrifice for each other.”

Coach Terry Nooner agrees and calls Anciaux a leader on the team and a testament to hard work: “Consistently we’re going to get the same attitude, we’re going to get her being smart, she’s going to be in the right spots all the time on the court and she’s going to take accountability for making mistakes. I think as a coach you really like to have somebody out there who you can trust and you know is going to be consistent every day,” Nooner said. 

Anciaux embodies her big sister role in other ways, too. The team has played through three losing seasons out of the four years she has been at WSU. Through coaching staff changes and player transfers, she’s remained committed to the Shockers. Anciaux hopes the work she is putting in now with her teammates will be reflected in the future. 

“I have no problem being a part of the foundation and being part of the growth of this program, because I know that this program can be very successful as we have been in the past,” Anciaux said. “I don’t think you’ll get very far in life if you give up the first time you reach something that is a challenge.”

‘Consistently we’re going to get the same attitude, we’re going to get her being smart, she’s going to be in the right spots on the court.’ — Coach Terry Nooner

Those big sister moments are carrying through and being recognized by even some of her youngest supporters. 

 “My little sisters want to wear number 13 on their basketball teams, and that means the world to me because they look up to me,” Anciaux said. 

Anciaux is studying exercise science with a certificate in fitness and weight lifting, and is expecting to graduate this spring. In the fall, Anciaux plans on attending Cleveland University in Overland Park to work toward her Doctor of Chiropractic degree. 

WSU women’s basketball senior day is March 4 against Tulsa. The team will travel to Dallas for the AAC Tournament March 8–12.