Lady Topper Basketball: 2024-25 Roster Tracker

Make sure to bookmark this article to keep track of the Lady Tops and any future changes. We will update this as news comes in.

We have a roster tracker for the men’s basketball team and we have one for football. Why don’t we make one for the Lady Tops?

In Greg Collins’ sixth year, Western Kentucky Women’s Basketball started out hot, owning a 9-6 record against a fairly tough non-conference schedule. Starting 3-0 in Conference USA had the Lady Tops obviously in first place, at 12-6 overall, and feeling like a real contender for a Conference USA title.

Unfortunately, from that point, WKU finished the season on a massive 3-11 slide. Therefore, it may leave to some bitter feelings, some frustration, some blame. There were some injuries, mainly involving leading scorer Acacia Hayes, who missed a month and a half of conference play, coming back sparingly a couple of games before the Conference USA Tournament began. Perhaps that explains why the entire roster has not imploded.

All told, WKU has not seen a ton of people take off. Several have, but most of the young core of the team seems to be hanging in.

Presumed Returning Scholarships (7)

C Caitlin Staley 6'3" Evans, GA So.

C Jailynn Brill 6'3" Lincoln, NE So.

F Josie Gilvin 6'0" Louisville, KY Jr.

G Mackenzie Chatfield 5'8" Aukland New Zealand So.

G Acacia Hayes 5'8" Murfreesboro, TN Jr.

G Alexis Mead 5’5” Moreno Valley, CA Sr.-This one deserves some notes. Alexis Mead entered the transfer portal and frankly looked like she might be saying goodbye. However, WKU, on a team that desperately needs guards, now has its star PG back for a final season. This is a HUGE save by Greg Collins, and with the size on the roster, having any kind of depth at guard could immediately make WKU a step better than they would have been without Mead.

G Destiny Salary 6’0” Jonesboro, AR-having gone through Senior Night, Destiny represented a massive midyear boost and was arguably WKU’s best player at times, competing with Acacia Hayes as the 1a/1b option for the Lady Tops. She was certainly able to penetrate the lane. She was not as prolific the last few games of the year, but with players departing that could create their own shots, like Karris Allen and Teresa Faustino, having three players that can penetrate the lane in Destiny, Acacia, and Lexie Mead will allow WKU to be versatile at guard, forward, and center next season.

Signees (7)

F Caleigh-Rose West 6'1" Orlando, FL R-Jr. From Iowa Western CC-Signed

F Torri James 6'0" Clarksville, TN Fr.-Signed

F Mariama Sow 6'3" Theis, Senegal Sr. From UTEP-Signed

F Tatum Boettjer 6'2" Derby, KS Jr. From Barton CC-Signed

F Salma Khedr 6'0" Giza, Egypt Fr.-Signed

F Zsofia Telegdy 6’3” Budapest, Hungary, Jr. transfer from Kansas-Signed

F Mya Pratcher 6’3” Memphis, TN, Jr. transfer from Jackson State-Signed

G/F Tia Shelling 5’10” New Orleans, LA, Jr. transfer from Odessa College-Signed

Currently in the transfer portal (0)

Committed Elsewhere (3)

F Karris Allen-Committed to SIU in mid-April, still young, long, and athletic, Karris Allen leaving would means an athletic, solid bodied wing/power forward prospect for the future leaves the roster.

G Naveah Foster-Committed to IUPUI, Veah was a young freshman that didn’t see the court much in her first year at WKU. A really good shooter that needed to work on defense, ball skills, and decision making, if she was to stick around, she would probably have earned some playing time this coming season. However, young players can easily get frustrated and take off when they get little to no playing time.

F Aaliyah Pitts-Committed to FIU on May 28, A significant role player, Pitts leaving would take some experience, size, and shooting from the Lady Topper roster. However, she also took over 100 threes and made less than 25 percent from deep. A former transfer from Virginia, Pitts interestingly transfers to conference foe FIU of all places.

Departing Seniors (2)

Odeth Betancourt-Out of eligibility, Odeth represents a big body that could defend and could provide some points off of the bench or as a starter. She was able to match up with certain big bodies and hold her own.

Teresa Faustino-Having gone through Senior Night, Faustino represents a solid, Power Five transfer starter that could do a little bit of everything. She was a huge member of this season’s team.

---

With Greg Collins moving into his seventh offseason on The Hill as the Lady Topper head coach (spent six year as assistant before being named HC), there’s no telling exactly what WKU’s chances will be. A great deal of it will fall on whether WKU can keep some of the players that may be able to extend eligibility or just decide not to transfer out. If everyone slated to leave actually leaves, the Lady Tops will need a miraculously lucky recruiting offseason to immediately compete with the likes of Liberty and MTSU in Conference USA. If they could keep their core and add some size, they could be right there knocking on the door of a 21st NCAA Tournament appearance.

UPDATE for April: WKU is clearly going after serious size this offseason, having signed more than a handful of players, all of which are forwards over 6’ tall. If these forwards all see themselves into the season, this will be the biggest Lady Topper team since all-time leading scorer Crystal Kelly’s teams played on The Hill.

UPDATE 6/5/24: Since the last update, WKU has solidified several guards that now should be able to fill out a rotation at the 1-3 positions. They are still a little thin, but if someone can step up, or Josie Gilvin can continue to develop more of a guard’s skillset offensively, WKU should be the biggest and deepest it has been in nearly two decades. If Greg Collins can’t compete with this group of talented players, there’s something disturbingly wrong. Without a huge step forward and hanging with Liberty and MTSU at the top of the league, WKU’s roster could implode next season when all of the players that hung on for one more year under Collins move on to another university or life after basketball.

With Alexis Mead and Destiny Salary hanging on for one more year and key pieces like Acacia Hayes, Josie Gilvin, and young center Caitlyn Staley sticking around, in addition to the massive upgrade in size, this Lady Topper team should be more competitive against the likes of MTSU, Liberty, and FIU.

As far as an update on Collins and the overall team chances, disaster has been abated in the “what-if’s” and transfer portal department and there really isn’t any excuse not to be a 20+ win team and legitimately compete for a conference championship. With MTSU, FIU, and Liberty all looking like the class of the league, WKU has a lot to overcome. However, in Collins’ 7th year on The Hill, the time has come to rise to the top of Conference USA and get it done.

UPDATE 6/6/24: WKU has announced the signing of Odessa College’s Tia Shelling. Shelling averaged 10-3-3 for Odessa as a sophomore and brings much needed guard/wing depth as well as some shooting ability (33 percent from three point land). The only baffling part of her game is a dreadful 45 percent from the free throw line. Regardless, WKU fans can now breathe easier and know that the Lady Toppers will have enough competent non-forwards to have an actual rotation.

Tune into @thetowelrackwku on Twitter/X for ongoing WKU information. While you’re at it, go ahead and check out the RedOut Podcast on Twitter/X and on YouTube. They are your Lady Topper experts, your longest running WKU podcast, and also our video content guys. As always, we are your #1 source for unfiltered and honest WKU content!

If you’d like to support the Towel Rack’s efforts (like traveling with teams, credentials, podcast expenses, licensing, administration costs, etc.)…