ATLANTA (April 7, 2026) — The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association is pleased to announce the graduates of the 23rd “So You Want To Be A Coach” program. Each student-athlete attended the two-day workshop on April 3 and 4 during the WBCA Convention in Phoenix.
The “So” program increases the understanding and application of skills necessary to secure coaching positions in women’s basketball, increases the understanding and awareness of competencies necessary for success in coaching, introduces female basketball players to coaches and administrators, and raises awareness of the existing talent pool of female basketball players who have a passion and interest in coaching the game of women’s basketball.
“The WBCA community of coaches each year invests in young, aspiring coaches through the ‘So You Want To Be A Coach’ program,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “We have high expectations for these graduating student-athletes and the future contributions they will make to the game of women’s basketball.”
Here are the graduates of the 2026 “So You Want To Be A Coach” program:
| Name | Institution |
| Olivia Argall | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh |
| Aly Avrach | Keiser University |
| Ashlyn Baker | Oklahoma Wesleyan University |
| Sam Blaylock | St. Mary’s College of Maryland |
| Sydney Bourland | Idaho State University |
| Olivia Campbell | Wittenberg University |
| Kayleigh Carson | Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
| Kira Chivers | Loyola University |
| Mya Davidson | St. Bonaventure University |
| Amaya Dowdy | Stonehill College |
| Carissa Dunham | Gannon University |
| Sisi Eleko | Eastern Michigan University |
| Ella Farrelly | Monmouth University |
| Bridget Froehlke | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh |
| Jalynette Garcia | Bridgewater College |
| Annalicia (Anna) Goodman | James Madison University |
| Piper Graham | Elms College |
| Colby Guinta | Cleveland State University |
| Keaton Hall | Transylvania University |
| Jordan Harrison | West Virginia University |
| Elena Houghton | Bucknell University |
| Kaylah Ivey | Rutgers University |
| Riley James | Belmont Abbey College |
| Sierra Johnson | Sacred Heart University |
| Tasia Johnson | University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
| Tuti Jones | Belmont University |
| Kayley Joseph-Bernard | Slippery Rock University |
| Hailey Kellogg | Christopher Newport University |
| Caydee Kirkham | Coe College |
| Anabel Latorre Ciria | University of Massachusetts Lowell |
| Elise LeBeau | University of California Merced |
| Jaila Lee | University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
| Ally Lovisolo | Loyola University (Maryland) |
| Aislin Malcolm | Robert Morris University |
| Colbi Maples | Cleveland State University |
| Emma Martin | South Dakota School of Mines |
| Peyton McDaniel | James Madison University |
| Alexia Nelson | Saint Louis University |
| Malia Nelson | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse |
| Janiah Newell | Austin Peay State University |
| Meg Newman | DePaul University |
| Zya Nugent | Saint Louis University |
| Justis Odom | DePaul University |
| Kamryn Peppler | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay |
| Jiya Perry | University of Delaware |
| NyCeara Pryor | Texas A&M University |
| Casey Santoro | Youngstown State University |
| Skyler Searfoss | Holy Family University |
| Bobbi Smith | East Carolina University |
| Nicole Stephens | University of Dayton |
| Ellie Taylor | Radford University |
| Kelsey Thompson | Old Dominion University |
| Isabel Tillett | Saint Louis University |
| Cameron Tripp | Warner University |
| Shealyn Tripp | Wayne State University |
| Emily Venick | Chatham University |
| Kaylin Venick | Regis University |
| Aylesha Wade | Queens University of Charlotte |
| Khassidy Warr | Oklahoma Wesleyan University |
| Marley Washenitz | Arizona State University |
| Elaina Watson | Adams State University |
| Jadyn Weltz | University of Vermont |
| Evie Wolshire | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville |
| Sara Zabrecky | University of Illinois Chicago |
“So” participants learn about the administrative side of coaching, recruiting, how to get hired, skill development, the importance of knowing the rules, and how to balance work and life.
Participants must have exhausted their final year of basketball eligibility at a four-year institution or have graduated within the past year and must be nominated by their WBCA-member head coach. Each participant is selected based on her academics, contributions to women’s basketball on and off the court, professional resume´ and a written recommendation from their head coach.
Visit WBCA.org for more information on the “So” program.
About the WBCA
The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.
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