Former BYU basketball star Tresa Spaulding Hamson’s No. 54 jersey was retired and raised to the rafters of the Marriott Center on Feb. 22, 2025.
“I love that every game day I get to look up in those rafters and be reminded that I come from a legacy,” Heather Hamson, a senior on this year's BYU women's basketball team, said about her mother. “Even if my mom is not [physically at the game], I know she is watching over me as soon as I step on that court.”
On the day her jersey was retired, Tresa Spaulding Hamson said her position has shifted.
“I am not a coach anymore when it comes to the girls when they are playing,” she said. “I am a support. My job is to love and to support them and to encourage them to do the very best they can.”
Basketball runs in Heather’s blood. With the love from her family, especially her mom, she is continuing a strong family tradition at BYU.
Tresa is a former three-time All-American, and her sisters, Jennifer and Sara, also played for the BYU women’s basketball team. Jennifer competed from 2010 to 2014, while Sara played from 2017 to 2021. Heather and Sara even shared the court during the 2021 season.
Heather hopes to make a legacy of her own this season as she wraps up this generation of the Hamson family in BYU blue.
Speaking at BYU women's basketball media day on Sept. 17, Heather reflected on her unique experience with the program — from playing under three different head coaches to sharing the court with her sister and now working alongside assistant coach Paisley Johnson Harding, a former teammate.
Heather’s journey at BYU began in 2021 under longtime head coach Jeff Judkins as part of the team that earned a trip to the NCAA tournament.
During the 2022-2023 season, then under Amber Whiting, Heather gained court time. She appeared in 21 games, contributing 23 points, nine rebounds, and a handful of blocks. The following season featured similar statistics.
This past season, Heather appeared in 25 games and brought several personal highlights.
Heather recorded a career-high eight rebounds against Arizona State on Feb. 22 and scored a personal-best 11 points against Kansas State on Jan. 11. Heather also recorded a career-high of two blocks on two occasions, the most recent being the Kansas State game in January.
Now in her final season, Heather is excited for what this season holds. It will be another unique experience playing under her third head coach in five years, Lee Cummard.
“I am really excited for this year and what Lee wants to do with this season,” Heather said. “Already so far, I am so excited with all the cultural things he’s implemented and practices have been awesome. I am just really excited to see what Lee is going to take us to this year.”
One of Heather’s personal goals is to average eight rebounds a game and help lead her team to the postseason tournament.
“I would just love to help bring this team to the NCAA tournament,” Heather said. “I would love to get there again. We went my freshman year, and I’d love to go again.”
This season marks BYU’s third year in the Big 12 Conference. During the Media, Cummard emphasized the team's bigger goal — not just to make it, but “make a run in the NCAA tournament.”
The team will begin their journey on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at home against Western Colorado.