DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis women's basketball senior forward Megan Norris has a long list of accomplishments during her time as an Aggie, it's a list that keeps growing despite the unique challenges of being a student-athlete at one of the premier universities in the nation.
 
Throughout her redshirt senior season in 2025-26, Norris has shown the nation what it means to be an Aggie, setting program records and positioning herself as one of the top centers in the NCAA. The excellence and expertise with which she plays is all a reflection of the love and dedication she has for the sport.
 
The journey into becoming the player that she is today was far from easy.
 
With a vision for the future, Norris made the difficult decision to redshirt her freshman season, trusting the Aggie coaching staff with her development while forming a strong bond with her teammates.
 
Norris recalls thinking, "Do I want to fight for a few minutes my first season, or do I want to be able to dominate in that fifth year? I knew that if I trusted the staff and my teammates that I could get to that point."
 
She has done exactly that, and for the past four seasons Norris has been a constant force and presence under the basket.
 
Arguably one of the more physical forwards in the Big West Conference, Norris has become essential to her team's successes as they rely on her defensive presence and toughness on a nightly basis.
 
During her redshirt season she sat back and just took it all in, becoming ingrained in head coach Jennifer Gross' system, "I got to learn the ins and outs of our offense, learning our defense, and just how to play our style. My redshirt season was so crucial to me being the player I am now," said Norris.
 
Her willingness to learn and buy into Aggie Pride has positioned Norris as a leader and captain on the team, providing guidance for her teammates, and acting as a bridge between them and their coaches. "Every year I feel I've developed a lot as a player," said Norris. "I feel it's taken some time for me to develop the maturity I needed to be the backbone of our defense. I really take pride in my teammates depending on me, and now it's a real part of my game that I bring every night."
 
Basketball has also provided Norris with opportunities off the court. Most notably, she appeared in a commercial starring Cameron Brink, former Stanford standout and current WNBA player whom Norris considers a role model for women in sports and a key figure in elevating women's basketball.
 
It's another example of how Norris has learned from leaders around her, translating that to the court and allowing Aggie Pride to be on showcase across many platforms.
 
Norris has also built a strong relationship with former Aggies who performed in the same leadership roles as she has now. Leaders such as Cal Aggie Hall of Famer and WNBA player Morgan Bertsch as well as former Big West Conference MVP Cierra Hall have provided her with encouragement and self-belief. "Having such successful former players give me words of encouragement, honestly was huge for me. It helped me to build confidence and allowed me to grow into the player I have become and continue to grow into."
 
Currently in a master's program, Norris will leave UC Davis with two degrees. A bachelor's in Political Science from the College of Letters and Sciences and a master's of management through the MBA Program.
 
Reflecting on the hardships and dedication of the work being put in, she reminisces how the support she receives from those around her have aided in her improvement. "I've been so lucky with this coaching staff and the girls who came before me," recalls Norris.
 
"Megan has grown into an incredible leader who embodies Aggie Pride in so many ways," said Head Coach Jennifer Gross. "She's a compassionate teammate who leads with authenticity and helps create an environment where everyone feels valued. She is a great communicator and brings tremendous energy to practice every day."
 
"Throughout her career, Megan has committed herself to constant improvement and continually finds new ways to help our team succeed. On top of that, she's an outstanding student who will no doubt be successful in whatever she chooses to do beyond basketball. I am so proud of everything Megan has accomplished during her time at UC Davis. It's been incredible to watch her grow into the player, leader, and person she is today."
 
Although it will be bittersweet to part from her team at the end of the season, the belief Norris has in her team doesn't waiver. "The way that the coaches prepare this team, the way that the girls have pride in this team, they're going to be ready for any challenge they get this year and beyond."
 
These past five years have been the best of Norris' life, and it's no question that she will leave a lasting impact and shape the future generations of Aggies. And for Megan Norris, the sky is the limit.

UP NEXT: UC Davis returns home for another Big West rematch on Thursday, Feb. 12 when it takes on UC San Diego. Tipoff for the game against the Tritons will be at 6:00 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on ESPN+ and KDVS 90.3.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: 

UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked No. 1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as No. 1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27. 

For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/.