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Less than 24 hours after reaching the NCAA Division II championship game for the first time in program history, a weary Western Washington University’s women’s basketball team returned to a campus welcome they never expected.

About 100 fans and family greeted their Bellingham police-escorted charter bus from SeaTac a little after 5 p.m. Saturday following a day-long, cross-country trip from Birmingham, Alabama, where the Vikings lost to Glenville (West Virginia) State in the title game, 85-72.

When the bus turned the corner and players caught sight of fans standing on the sidewalk wearing team blue, holding signs and waving blue-and-white pom-poms, they were stunned.

“We were surprised and just shocked,” said senior point guard Dani Iwami, whose season-ending injury in January transformed her into the team’s top supporter and student coach. 

Among the attendees were Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood, Western president Sabah Randhawa and his wife Uzma Ahmad, who traveled to Birmingham for the week. Coach Carmen Dolfo and players spoke near the tent, thanking everyone for coming. 

“We’re all a little bit sad last night didn’t turn out the way we wanted,” Dolfo told the crowd. “I know that when the dust settles” they’ll appreciate even more what they did. “We’re so proud of these women. It was an amazing ride we had.”