West Virginia women's basketball found itself at a pivotal crossroads as the offseason began. The Mountaineers had shown they could contend for the Big 12's regular-season crown, clinch the conference tournament, and even host NCAA Tournament games at Hope Coliseum.
It was a feat they hadn't achieved since 1992, the last time they advanced to the Sweet 16. However, their journey ended in the second round against Kentucky, adding another year to their Sweet 16 drought.
The Mountaineers were solid, but the question lingered: could they be better? The answer, it seems, was a resounding yes.
They needed to reload and evolve to reach new heights. The plan?
Embrace both defensive prowess and size. Head coach Mark Kellogg brought in two "elite" defenders for the backcourt and also signed four towering transfers, measuring 6-2, 6-3, 6-3, and 6-7.
This move was a direct response to Kentucky's height advantage, which had led to a rebounding deficit of 39-23, a 16-7 gap in second-chance points, and a 6-2 difference in blocked shots.
"It's different than anything we've had since we've been here," Kellogg remarked. "We're longer across the board.
Athletic. They can get in and out of screens.
They can score multiple ways."
But don't expect a complete overhaul. WVU's style, particularly its defensive strategy, has been effective.
Speed and chaos have been their trademarks, with the last three Big 12 defensive players of the year hailing from West Virginia. JJ Quinnerly, a two-time winner, stands at 5-8, while Jordan Harrison is 5-6.
The addition of Pitt transfer Nylah Wilson, a former five-star recruit, and George Mason transfer Kennedy Harris, who boasts two all-conference honors, bolsters Kellogg's defensive lineup.
Revisiting that Kentucky game, despite the size disadvantage, WVU only trailed by four points in the paint, 32-28. Now, with added height, the Mountaineers could find scoring near the hoop a bit easier.
Enter Marquette transfer Skylar Forbes, a 6-3 powerhouse with over 1,000 career points. Last season, she was a first-team all-Big East selection, made the all-defense team, and led the conference in blocks per game for two consecutive years. Kellogg noted her versatility, saying she can set perimeter picks, shoot, and drive.
Khyala Ngodu, another 6-3 addition from UCF, brings a different skill set. Averaging 7.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, she was an honorable mention all-Big 12 pick last season, leading her team in various categories, including baskets, rebounds, steals, and blocks.
"We had a couple possessions the other day in practice where I think we had three straight possessions with a blocked shot," Kellogg observed. "I hadn't seen that a whole lot. We didn't block a ton of shots so far in my three years, so I think we'll see a little bit more of some rim protection."
Kellogg is also looking forward to seeing more from 6-2 Pitt transfer Divine Tumba and 6-7 VCU transfer Hawa Doumbouya. Tumba redshirted at Pitt last year, while Doumbouya has seen limited action over three years, playing 137 minutes across stints at Maryland, Virginia, and VCU.
"It's better when you see it on the court and it's productive," Kellogg said. "On the roster is one thing, but can it produce and actually help you on the floor? Those are the things that we want, so whether it's 6-7, 6-3, there are options for me, and as a coach, that's what you want."
With these strategic additions, the Mountaineers aim to blend size with their signature speed, hoping to push past previous limits and make a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament.
In Other News...
Mike Hawkins Jr. Just Put Two WVU Defenders On Notice
Quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. already has a feel for which West Virginia defensive backs could shape the coming season, and two names he singled out stand out for different reasons. Chams Diagne brings the kind of length and coverage ability that can change how an offense attacks, while Geimere Latimer has the reputation of a disciplined piece who should be steady in the back end.
For WVU, the intrigue is in how much more each player can add beyond the basics. Diagne still has to prove he can finish plays better in space and hold up against the run, while Latimer is being counted on to bring more pressure and handle a bigger share of the dirty work near the line. With the defense still sorting out its identity for 2026, those two may end up mattering as much for what they can prevent as for what they can create. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Finally Landed The In-State Addition Fans Have Been Waiting For
West Virginia has added a familiar name with real upside in Alexis Bordas, the Wheeling native who is coming home after one season at Duquesne. Bordas made an immediate impact as a freshman, averaging 15.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while earning a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie Team, giving the Mountaineers a local player who already arrives with proven production.
For a fan base that has been waiting to see a West Virginia-born player in the womens basketball program again, Bordas checks a box that goes beyond the numbers. She brings four years of eligibility under the new rules, which gives WVU a chance to build around her for more than just the short term, and it adds another layer of intrigue to how the roster will take shape moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Still Has One Running Back Problem It Did Not Fix
West Virginia spent the summer trying to stir some movement in its running back recruiting board, hosting several official visitors and hoping to chip away at a depth chart that needed attention. The visits brought plenty of activity, but the end result was more mixed than transformational, with the Mountaineers cycling through the usual recruiting churn without truly changing the shape of the room.
One prospect ended up at Houston, another came to West Virginia but fit more as a receiver than a true back, and a third briefly pledged to the Mountaineers before moving on to Auburn. Tylek Lewis is still out there as an uncommitted option, but for now the bigger takeaway is simple enough for West Virginia: after all those visits, the running back situation looks the same as it did before the June official period began. [Read more 🡒]