UCF women’s basketball coach Sytia Messer asked for a bit of grace recently after three straight losing seasons with the Knights. She said in the transfer portal era that coaches need more time to build continuity.
She and the Knights could use a little grace going into this season. The program lost most of its top players from a year ago and is basically starting over. Here is a preview of the UCF Knights 2025-26 women’s basketball team.
UCF Knights
2024-25: 12-18, 4-14 in Big 12, tied for 12th place. Reached second round of Big 12 Tournament before losing to Kansas State. No other postseason action.
Head coach: Sytia Messer is entering her fourth season with UCF. She is 38-50 in three seasons and is 92-91 overall as a head coach (2009-12 at Tennessee Tech). She led TTU to a WNIT berth.
Big 12 history: UCF made its Big 12 debut during the 2023-24 season. In two seasons it has won seven league games and not finished better than a tie for 12th place.
UCF Schedule: Click here for a complete 2025-26 Big 12 schedule.
UCF 2025-26 Roster Review
Gone: G Kaitlin Peterson (21.4 ppg), G Lucie Castagne (0.9 ppg), G Nevaeh Brown (8.8 ppg), F Achol Akot (6.6 ppg), G/F Emely Rodriguez (11.9 ppg), F Taylor Gibson (DNP), F Adeang Ring (3.7 ppg), C Arek Angui (2.5 ppg), G Ally Stedman (3.4 ppg).
Returning: G/F Summer Yancy (2.9 ppg), F Mahogany Chandler-Roberts (2.4 ppg), C Khyala Ngodu (6.9 ppg).
Incoming transfers: G Kristol Ayson (7.4 ppg at Tulsa), G Jacorriah Bracey (10.5 ppg at Ole Miss), G/F Logan Reed (redshirted at TAMU-CC), G Kayanna Cox (2.5 ppg at SMU), F Jasmynne Gibson (8.6 ppg at North Florida), C Savannah Scott (4.5 ppg in 2023-24 at Auburn), G Leah Harmon (2.8 ppg at Miami), G Audreonia Benson (11.6 ppg at Pensacola State College)
Incoming freshmen: G Samari Bankhead, G Felicia Schölander, F Meja Hänsel
Projected Starting Lineup
G Jacorriah Bracey: The leading scorer on the roster should draw a spot right away.
G Kristol Ayson: Put up solid averages as a part-time starter with the Golden Hurricane.
G Kayanna Cox: Should get more chances for playing time than she did with the Mustangs.
F Jasmynne Gibson: A solid producer at North Florida last season.
C Khayla Ngodu: Averaged nearly seven points a season ago and should be improved from a year ago.
Starting Lineup Crashers
G Audreonia Benson: She played at the junior college level last season, but the Knights could use her scoring.
C Savannah Scott: Did not play a season ago but her height (6-foot-4) gives her a chance to find get playing time.
Lineup Competition
This is basically a rebuild from the studs for Messer, who has Ngodu to build around from last year and hopes to get more out of Yancy. She didn’t pull a double-digit scorer from a four-year school in the transfer portal, so she’s hoping that scoring balance and player development will get some improvement out of the program. It’s possible that some of her freshmen could make an impact, too. Bankhead — who was coached by Kobe Bryant as a younger player — is worth tracking.
Early Prediction
Messer’s job security is worth tracking considering the program really hasn’t made progress since joining the Big 12. She has a defensive background and if she can get this group to play considered defense, it can make life difficult for Big 12 teams. The key will be finding two or three players that can score consistently. Expect the Knights to still be an unknown quantity going into conference action. If UCF hits .500 for the season that will constitute progress.
