Head coach Mark Kellogg led the Mountaineers to a third consecutive 25+ win season in his third season with the team. WVU won the Big 12 Tournament, but got bounced in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year. They lost many players, including Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jordan Harrison. The roster is going to look very different next season, especially after one of the two starters with eligibility remaining entered the transfer portal. Read more: WVU Women’s Basketball transfer portal update.
Returning players
Gia Cooke is now the lone starter from last year who is still expected to return for next season. Carter McCray, the other starter who could return, is the latest player to enter the transfer portal. She started 26 of 34 games, averaged 6.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per game. She had one year of eligibility remaining.
Related: Mountaineers hold off Nittany Lions, 3-1
Jordan Thomas was the first player to enter the transfer portal once it opened. Thomas played her first two seasons in Morgantown, but dealt with injuries that sidelined her. She played every game in her freshman season, averaging 16.1 minutes, 6.2 points, and 4.3 rebounds. Those numbers dipped to 11.3 minutes, 3.8 points, and 2.7 rebounds per game in 26 games.
Loghan Johnson also entered the portal, according to reports. She spent one season in Morgantown after spending two at Texas Tech. She has one year of eligibility remaining. She made 24 appearances for WVU and averaged 8.2 minutes and 1.5 points per game.
As of now, WVU has three players returning from last season’s roster. Cooke and Riley Makalusky both have one year of eligibility remaining, while Madison Parrish is entering her sophomore season. They have made some moves on the portal, including one recruit who could make an immediate impact.
Newcomers
Chanté Murray signed her National Letter of Intent to play for WVU next season. Murray is from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and played her senior season at Crestwood Preparatory College. She also played for Kia Nurse Elite, an AAU team. Murray has international experience, as well, having competed with Team Canada at the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup.
“She is a versatile player on both ends of the court that will fit nicely into our system,” Kellogg said. “Defensively, she will impact the game and be disruptive with her length and athleticism. Offensively, she can get to the rim off the dribble, score at mid-range, and shoot the three. Her international experience with the Canadian National Team will help in her transition to Big 12 basketball.”
In the portal, WVU has added three players. The first was Divine Tumba Tsibuabua from Pitt. She has four years of eligibility remaining after sitting out last season as a redshirt freshman. She also played for Team Canada U18, averaging 8.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, the latter of which led the team.
The Mountaineers also added Zahirah “ZaZa” Walton from George Mason. She has one year of eligibility remaining. She has started 65 games over the past two seasons and has averaged double-digit points in all three seasons. She averaged 18.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.8 steals for the Patriots last season.
The latest addition is Khyala Ngodu, a center from UCF. Ngodu has one year of eligibility remaining after three seasons with the Knights. She averaged 10.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game last season, while playing for UCF in the Big 12. She knows Big 12 basketball, so she can step in right away and help this team.
