For Boise State Women’s Basketball forward Abby Muse, breaking records isn’t anything new.
In five years at Boise State, the 6-foot-3 inch perennial defender holds the Boise State Women’s Basketball record for all-time career blocks and blocks per game.
On Jan. 4, 2025, Muse also became the program’s all-time career leader in rebounds with 1,030 following the Broncos loss to UNLV 61-57, according to a press release.
“It’s a pretty special accomplishment,” Muse said in a post-game conference. “Obviously, winning is more important and I wish we could have pulled this one out. The milestones aren’t why I’m here, but it is pretty special.”
Muse’s introduction to basketball began at an early age with both of her parents being former athletes who played collegiately at UC Santa Barbara and professionally overseas.
Muse, who was born in Portugal, split time back and forth living in California in the offseason and Portugal during the season.
As a kid, Muse said she initially drew interest in soccer before finding basketball in the first grade.
“My parents, they did not force basketball at all,” Muse said. “It was just … throw me and my siblings at everything and see what sticks.”
Growing up, Muse’s parents helped coach some of her teams. Muse added that the guidance and support early on helped shape her love for basketball and is “blessed” for her parents to continue to provide advice.
“They just talk about perspective,” Muse said. “If I have a bad game, it’s like ‘What can we do to fix it?’ — You have another game, it’s not the end of the world. [Just] get back in the gym and watch [game] film.”
Coming out of high school in the class of 2020, Muse was a four-star recruit with offers from schools like University of New Mexico, University of California, Davis (UCD), University of Nevada, Reno, University of Portland and Boise State University. Muse said her decision to commit to Boise State came from her initial campus visit.
“I fell in love with Boise on my visit,” Muse said. “I’d never been to Idaho, so I was like ‘What’s there to do in Idaho? There’s literally nothing’ — Then I came here, and I was like ‘Whoa, this is actually amazing’. There’s an amazing community out here, I just fell in love with that and the culture of the program and Boise itself.
As a freshman, Muse played in all 23 Boise State games averaging 5.7 points per game and five rebounds. Muse credits Assistant Coach Heather Sower for her development as a post player, especially since her freshman year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“She’s been that steady presence, not only for the post [players], but for the team in general,” Muse said. “She kind of runs the show in that sense — she’s been really crucial to my development.”
In Muse’s junior season in 2023, she was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, finishing eighth in the NCAA in blocks per game that year.
“Aggressive on defense, I think I’m really determined when I play,” Muse said of her play style. “At least when it comes to getting rebounds and making sure the other person doesn’t score.”
Boise State Women’s Basketball Coach Gordy Presnell said he’s proud of Muse’s success both on and off the court.
“She’s been the face of our program and really a model example of a student-athlete,” Presnell said. “[She’s] tremendous academically, has done some wonderful things on the floor, drawing block shots and rebounding.”
In addition to Muse’s breaking records, she also leads Boise State Women’s Basketball in career personal fouls with 347.
“She anchors the back of our defense and a lot of teams try to get her into rotation, and when she’s rotating over, it’s a big help for everybody — kind of cleans up a lot of mistakes,” Presnell said.
Boise State Senior forward Alyssa Christensen, who’s in her second year at Boise State after transferring from College of Southern Idaho, explained how Muse’s leadership had an overall impact on her experience at Boise State.
“When I first came [to Boise State], I was the only new person joining the team, so it was pretty scary joining a team of all girls that have been together for a couple years,” Christensen said. “Abby especially was really good at inviting me and including me and welcoming me.”
As a fellow post player, Christensen said Muse provided assistance throughout the season on the specific techniques of the position.
“She was really good at [explaining the] different lingo that we use on the court and any new drills,” Christensen said. “She was alway someone that was in my ear helping me and encouraging me when I was new.”
Competing in her final season, Muse is set to graduate in spring 2025 with a master’s degree in Business Administration. On the court, Muse said the main team goal is to win the Mountain West Championship and her personal goal is to play with “joy” in her last season.
“Play free and not have any statistical goals or anything like that,” Muse said. “I just want to have a really enjoyable fifth year.”
