The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team enters a critical offseason, with significant turnover affecting the 2025-26 roster. Key players, including guard Laila Phelia and junior guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, have transferred, raising concerns over depth and experience.
Despite this, Texas has aggressively targeted the NCAA transfer portal to reinforce its lineup. After advancing to the Final Four for the first time since 2003 in 2024-25, the Longhorns aim to build on their success. The upcoming season’s transfer portal activity could be pivotal in their quest for a national championship.
Transfer Portal Moves Key to Texas Women’s Basketball’s National Title Hopes in 2025-26
The 2025-26 season poses a pivotal challenge for the Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team, following a period of significant roster changes. Key players such as guard Laila Phelia and junior guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda have entered the transfer portal, creating potential gaps in depth and experience.
Despite these departures, the transfer portal remains central to Texas’s efforts to build a championship-caliber roster.
Top players from across the country, including Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson, Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles, and Ohio State’s Cotie McMahon, have entered the portal this year. Programs like TCU and Ole Miss have capitalized on these high-profile moves to bolster their rosters, heightening competition in conferences like the Big 12 and SEC.
However, Texas has not yet secured transfers of comparable magnitude, which could hinder its ability to compete with the influx of talent at rival schools. To address these losses, Texas has made two notable additions:
Breya Cunningham
Cunningham moved from Arizona after having averaged 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game in 2024-25. The McDonald’s All-American award recipient and Pac-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention recipient Breya Cunningham enters the team as a starter to replace Taylor Jones.
Her 56% field goal accuracy gives the team a combination of experience with flexible scoring options.
Lovisa Asbrink Hose
The 6’6″ center comes from Florida Atlantic, where she posted 3.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Although more of a developmental prospect, Asbrink Hose adds valuable size and depth to the frontcourt.
While the loss of Taylor Jones (graduated) and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (transfer) creates significant challenges, Texas hopes these new transfers can bridge the gap.
KEEP READING: Which Power 5 Women’s Basketball Transfers Will Make the Biggest Impact in 2025?
Jones’s absence leaves a void in the paint, while Mwenentanda’s versatility will also be missed. Additionally, reserve players Abbie Boutilier and Jordana Codio have transferred, but their impact was limited.
Texas’s ability to navigate the transfer portal effectively will be crucial to its national championship aspirations in 2025-26.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
