Lazo Continues Portal Haul, Signing Penn State Freshman and Florida Native Nyla McFadden

ORLANDO - Following an action-packed week that saw first-year head coach Gabe Lazo and his staff sign six exciting newcomers to the 2026-27 squad, UCF women’s hoops grew its haul once again, signing freshman standout and Florida native Nyla McFadden from Penn State.

Playing as both a guard and forward for the Nittany Lions throughout last season, McFadden averaged 4.5 points per game across 28 games, adding in an impressive 2.9 rebounds and 1 assist per game on a 47.4 percent clip from the field.

While the St. Thomas Aquinas products minutes were limited throughout non-conference play, she stepped into a more involved role as Big 12 play beckoned. The future Knight featured in at least 20 minutes in nine of Penn State’s last 14 contests.

McFadden's Career Stats

SEASON	GP-GS	MIN	FG-FGA	FG%	3FG-3FGA	3FG%	FT-FTA	FT%	PTS/G	AST/G	REB/G	BLK	STL
2025-26	28-8	13.8	46-97	47.4	11-32	34.4	23-28	82.1	4.5	0.9	2.9	2	16
TOTAL	28-8	13.8	46-97	47.4	11-32	34.4	23-28	82.1	4.5	0.9	2.9	2	16

McFadden produced multiple standout performances during the home stretch, including a career-high 15 points on six field goals at Oregon. That outing came during a stretch of consistent gametime for the freshman, who went on to garner eight starts in conference play after showcasing her versatile skill set.

Her first start came in a home bout with Illinois, clocking 27 minutes of floor time while authoring 12 points on five field goals. An efficient scorer, McFadden added a 34.4 percent mark from beyond the arc and a lockdown 82.1 percent clip from the charity stripe to her already productive rate from the floor.

Against Rutgers, McFadden dished out a career-high five assists to complement three rebounds and two steals. In all, the Fort Lauderdale native surpassed double-digits five times, including doing so in back-to-back contests to close the season vs USC and at Indiana.

McFadden laced up for St. Thomas Aquinas before her collegiate career, aiding the team to back-to-back state titles during her freshman and sophomore campaigns. While she played her junior season at Mt. Zion Academy in Maryland, she returned to Florida for her senior campaign. A successful stint with Essence EYBL highlighted her travel basketball career.

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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.