One of the most eagerly anticipated days of the 2019-20 Rainbow Wahine basketball calendar has already been celebrated.

It was locker selection day.

“We couldn’t wait,” said center Lauren Rewers, still savoring the the new locker and etched name plate.

Though there are boxes on the floor, cabinets yet to be installed and the official blessing and opening of the team’s under-renovation locker room still days away, the choice of lockers was huge in symbolism.

“It meant our new home is almost ready,” said head coach Laura Beeman.

Down the green Stan Sheriff Center hallway workers are refinishing the floor of a basketball court that last had a complete sanding and resurfacing nearly 20 years ago. Adjacent to the arena two practice gyms have been renovated and upgraded with climate control.

To understand what this all means, you need only note Beeman’s pained wince as she recalls her first glimpse of the facilities upon taking the job in 2012. “When I first got here and saw everything it was like, ‘Oh, we’ve got (recruiting) problems,’ ” Beeman recalls.

The broken shower tiles, the roaches and dripping faucets. “When you got out of the shower you still felt dirty,” Beeman said. “It was gross.”

In the past two months the 1,400 square-foot locker room and lounge area has undergone an approximate $160,000 makeover and re-design with new showers, tiling, fixtures and lockers. Unlike the practice gyms and Sheriff Center floor, which were funded by appropriations from the state Legislature, the locker room is being paid for by donations.

“No state money, just a lot of people stepping up for us,” said Beeman, who continues to raise funds.

She credited men’s basketball coach Eran Ganot with “spearheading it. He and his hui were behind the renovations of the men’s locker room and they helped us get the ball rolling,” Beeman said. “They’ve been very supportive and helpful.”

Under the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, formerly known as Title IX, gender equity is mandated in areas of athletics, including facilities.

Beeman said she didn’t want just a generic locker room. “I want these kids to feel like this is their home away from home, a place where they can prepare (for games) together, study together, play games and hang out. You want someplace that is clean, pretty and makes them feel valued.”

“It is amazing, something we can take pride in,” Rewers said. “You can feel the aloha and class.”

On deck are wall murals that celebrate past Rainbow Wahine teams. “You want to pay tribute to people like Nani Cockett, Sabrina McKenna and coach Vince Goo,” Beeman said.

She said, “People don’t understand the importance of a locker room. It isn’t just about where you go to change for the game. This is where the magic is done, in my opinion. It is about the team building, the chemistry. When you are dealing with girls — and I can say this because I have 15 of them — it is important that they like each other. If they do, it has an impact on what happens on the court.”

Combined with the renovations of their practice facilities, “We definitely are the best (in the Big West) and rival the (West Coast Conference),” Beeman said. “This is a game changer.”

The feeling, she said, was validated this week when two prospective recruits made an unofficial visit and checked out the unfinished locker room. “They were really stoked,” Beeman said, “They were like, ‘Wow!’ ”

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.