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UNM WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

New UNM women’s coach races to rebuild roster

Amid transfer portal turmoil, coach Amy Eagan lands key Lindenwood commitments

UNM’s Laila Abdurraqib, an All-MW Freshman Team honoree last season, is returning to the team under new coach Amy Eagan.
Published
Gracy Wernli

College basketball’s March Madness may have concluded for the year, but April anxiety is in full bloom.

No one knows this better than newly hired University of New Mexico women's basketball coach Amy Eagan, who in the middle of an exhausting stretch. Since being introduced as Lobos coach on April 8, Eagan has been scrambling to build a roster and deal with NCAA transfer portal entries while also preparing to relocate to Albuquerque full-time.

“Crazy, you wouldn’t believe it,” Eagan said of her whirlwind week. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but we’re making progress and doing well overall. Things happen so fast and there are so many moving parts to keep track of right now. It really is a crazy pace.”

Gracie Kelsey

Eagan secured two commitments from her previous program, Lindenwood, on Tuesday as On3.com reported Gracy Wernli and Gracie Kelsey have agreed to spend their senior seasons at UNM. They join former Lions teammate Valerie Norwood, who committed to New Mexico last week.

Wernli is a 5-foot-9 shooting guard from Bixby, Oklahoma who hit 50 3-pointers and shot 34.7% from long range in 33 starts as a sophomore. She played 14 games last season before going out with an injury.

Kelsey is a 6-2 forward from Agency, Missouri who started every game last season, averaging 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

Valerie Norwood

"Really good players and great people who our fans will love," Eagan said of the Lindenwood transfers. "I think it makes sense to bring in some players who know our system, too, and can help with teaching."

UNM’s roster is in flux as it rides is what amounts to a national player merry-go-round fueled by NIL contracts and the transfer portal. According to On3.com’s national tracker, 1,455 Division I women’s players had entered the portal as of Wednesday, with 177 having committed to new teams.

Like many other programs, especially those with new coaches, New Mexico has taken significant roster hits. UNM had six players in the portal Wednesday: starters Destinee Hooks, Joana Magalhães and Jessie Joaquim along with reserves Nayli Padilla, Emma Najjuma and Tyler Jones. Hooks (13.4 ppg) was the Lobos' leading scorer and an All-Mountain West selection as a junior last season, while Magalhães (8.4 ppg) ranked third on the team in scoring.

Eagan also confirmed that guard Cacia Antonio (10.3 ppg) will not return, though her departure is not portal-related. Antonio, who was forced to sit out UNM's first three games last season because of her participation on a club team in her native Angola, has been ruled ineligible to play at the Division I level next season.

Three of the four other members of New Mexico’s 2025-26 roster with remaining eligibility have committed to return to the Lobos. All-MW Freshman Team honoree Laila Abdurraqib, freshman Kaia Foster and junior Drew Jordon will return, leaving only freshman Leonor Peixinho’s status unannounced.

Amy Eagan, new head coach of the University of New Mexico women's basketball team, hugs basketball player Drew Jordon during a press conference at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on April 8, 2026.

Players entering the transfer portal remain eligible to return to their previous teams, but Eagan does not anticipate that happening at UNM this year.

“I think we're primarily through with the roster here,” she said, “and I’m really excited to work with the players who are coming back.”

Eagan said she has been in contact with current high school seniors Maya Thompson and Elizabeth Johnson, both of whom signed to play at UNM next season. Thompson is a 5-foot-11 guard from Dallas whose father, Germany Thompson, played football at New Mexico. Johnson is a 6-2 center from California’s Bay Area who had numerous D-I offers.

“Maya is locked in,” Eagan said, “and we’re waiting on Elizabeth’s decision.”

With holes still to fill, Eagan said she and her staff have been “working the portal” on a daily basis. The women's basketball portal closes to new entries on Monday, but players can sign at any time prior to the fall semester.

Priorities include versatile post players, an additional point guard and a “stretch” forward, Eagan said. UNM has upcoming campus recruiting visits scheduled as Eagan and her staff look to add players who are good fits for their preferred Princeton-style offense.