UNM WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Lobos add Australian guard Katie Duncan
After one month on the job, coach Amy Eagan is dialed in and getting things done
Not a bad first month on the job.
University of New Mexico women鈥檚 basketball coach Amy Eagan started April with a blank slate 鈥� an empty roster, no staff in place and nowhere to live in Albuquerque. The Lobos鈥� newly hired coach had a to-do list as long as her arm.
As May tips off, the list has shrunk considerably.
Roster for 2026-27: complete.
Women鈥檚 basketball staff: set.
Albuquerque residence: check.
Eagan put the finishing touch on UNM鈥檚 roster this week, adding 5-foot-8 guard Katie Duncan to the squad. A rising junior from Perth, Australia, Duncan spent the past two seasons at Kansas鈥� Hutchinson Community College, where she averaged 13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.4 steals as a sophomore.
Duncan picked up numerous Division I offers after helping the Blue Dragons reach the NJCAA Tournament quarterfinals. The left-hander hit 35% from 3-point range and is a legitimate three-level scorer.
鈥淜atie is an off-guard who can shoot it and get to the rim off the dribble,鈥� Eagan said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 got a high basketball IQ and a big upside. I鈥檓 looking forward to working with her.鈥�
Duncan鈥檚 addition brings UNM鈥檚 roster to a full 15 players for next season, Eagan said. Fourteen have been announced thus far with the 15th Lobo committed but not yet signed.
New Mexico鈥檚 squad will feature a mixture of returning players (Laila Abdurraqib, Drew Jordon, Kaia Foster and Quintilla Hidalgo), transfers (Valerie Norwood, Gracy Wernli, Gracie Kelsey, Keiara Curtis and Mila Reynolds, Brynn Eshoo, Duncan) and incoming freshmen (Maya Thompson, Savannah Stricker and Kate Wernli).
New Mexico had 13 players on last season鈥檚 roster. Two were seniors, seven entered the NCAA transfer portal, and four have announced plans to return, leaving only rising sophomore Leonor Peixinho unaccounted for as of Saturday.
LOOKING AHEAD: With next season鈥檚 roster set, Eagan and her staff are looking toward 2027-28 and recently secured their first commitment. Peyton Ward, a high-scoring 6-2 forward at Missouri鈥檚 Marshfield High School, announced her decision via social media. Ward averaged 20.7 points and 8.3 rebounds as a junior and was an All-State honoree last season. She has surpassed 1,500 career points scored and previously committed to play for Eagan at Lindenwood (Eagan鈥檚 previous program).
LANDING SPOTS: Six of the seven former UNM players who entered the transfer portal have signed with new teams for next season. Rising senior Destinee Hooks, last season鈥檚 leading scorer, signed with Texas Tech, while starting post Jessie Joaquim committed to play at Akron.
Former Lobo player and assistant coach Nike McClure is joining the coaching staff at Santa Clara as an assistant coach. McClure will work with two familiar faces in ex-UNM starters Joana Magalhaes and Emma Najjuma, who transferred to Santa Clara in April.
Rising junior Nayli Padilla will play for former Mountain West rival San Diego State, while rising sophomore Tyler Jones transferred to UT Martin. Former Lobo Cacia Antonio remained unsigned as of Saturday, according to on3.com.
SCHEDULE NOTES: Season tickets for 2026-27 recently went on sale although the Lobos鈥� schedule is not entirely set. Eagan said UNM needs to add three games to complete its slate, much of which was secured before she was hired. The Lobos will have home games against Big 12 foes Colorado and Arizona to complete home-and-home contracts. UNM will also host New Mexico State after visiting Las Cruces last season. It will likely be the only meeting between the Lobos and Aggies in 2026-27, Eagan said.
