2025-26 Women's Hoops Preview: Returners and Freshmen

ORLANDO - The 2025-26 UCF women's basketball season commences on Monday, November 3, at Addition Financial Arena, as the Knights are set to welcome Bethune-Cookman for their second season-opening contest with the Wildcats in three years.

With college athletics ushering in a new era of roster construction, head coach Sytia Messer and her staff welcomed in eight transfers and three freshmen to join a trio of returning pieces from last season's squad. With the campaign just days away, below is a breakdown of both the experience and youth that Knight Nation will see on the court this season:

RETURNERS

Summer Yancy | Guard/Forward | Sophomore | Kansas City, Missouri

Sophomore Summer Yancy hopes to build upon a few strong performances last season, notching back-to-back 14-point nights in just 21 games all season. Coming out of high school, Yancy earned honors as a three-time all-state player and was ranked number four in the state of Missouri. She accumulated 1,400 points and 782 rebounds throughout her high school career and aims to continue that dominance at the college level, staying with the Black and Gold for her sophomore year.

Mahogany Chandler-Roberts | Forward | Sophomore | Portland, Oregon

The 6-2 forward Mahogany Chandler-Roberts enters her second year on the roster after starting nine games last season. As one of the top recruits in the state of Oregon, she made the move across the country to play for a UCF team that can utilize her outstanding ability to grab rebounds and play tough night in and night out. Her talents reflect on the stat sheet, notching the fifth-highest rebound total on the team last year with 102 boards.

Khyala Ngodu | Center | Junior | Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The longest tenured player on the Knights, Khyala Ngodu, stands as one of the best defenders on the team. Ngodu utilized her 6’3 frame last year to earn 14 blocks and grab 170 rebounds. Ngodu appeared in 29 games last season, averaging 19 minutes a night, solidifying herself as the most experienced returner on the roster. With a strong presence in the paint, Ngodu will strive to solidify herself as one of the conference's best players in the front court.

FRESHMEN

Samari Bankhead | Guard | Junior | Los Angeles, Calif.

Samari Bankhead, the 6-0 guard from Los Angeles, serves as a dynamic shooter and playmaker. Bankhead shot 35% from the three-point range in her best high school season, averaging 13 points per game. Additionally, Bankhead received the opportunity to be coached by the late, great Kobe Bryant in her youth career, boasting an impressive resume on the West Coast AAU scene.

Felicia Scholander | Guard | Freshman | Stockholm, Sweden

Felicia Schölander stands at just 5-9, but plays up to her competition with the ability to guard any position on the court. Coach Messer refers to Schölander as a “pure shooter” and is excited for her to showcase her range and add to the offensive attack. In Sweden’s Basketettan league, she averaged 14.4 points per game last season while shooting 33 percent from three. Schölander also helped the Swedish national team to a fourth-place finish in the FIBA European championship in 2024.

Meja Hansel | Forward | Freshman | Stockholm, Sweden

The second Swedish player, Meja Hänsel, is a 6-2 forward who comes from a rich basketball scene at the Luleå national basketball high school. Her three years there were capped off by a strong average of 11.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last year. A 21-point, 10-rebound double-double performance highlighted Hänsel’s past season.

SINGLE GAME AND SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
UCF women's basketball single-match and season tickets are on sale now. Be sure to catch all the action at Addition Financial Arena. Tickets can be purchased online at ucfknights.com/tickets or by calling the ticket office at (407) 823-1000.

ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.