The second season of Kenny Brooks' tenure as head coach of the University of Kentucky women's basketball team concluded this past Saturday, marking the end of the Wildcats' 2025-26 campaign. Kentucky, seeded fifth in Region 3 of the NCAA Tournament, was unable to overcome top-seeded Texas in the Sweet 16 round, falling 76-54 at Dickies Arena. With the season over, the Wildcats are now turning their focus to preparations for the 2026-27 season. This summary provides an in-depth look at the key departures, returning players, potential roster changes, and incoming talent shaping Kentucky women's basketball moving forward.
### Season Recap and Departures
Kentucky's 2025-26 season ended with a hard-fought loss to a strong Texas team, but the Wildcats displayed considerable talent and promise throughout the year. However, the team will be saying goodbye to five players who have exhausted their collegiate eligibility: Josie Gilvin, Amelia Hassett, Teonni Key, Tonie Morgan, and Jordan Obi.
Among those departing, Hassett, Key, and Morgan were integral parts of the starting lineup, composing three of the five starters. Jordan Obi was a key rotational player, appearing in all 36 games with 25 starts. Josie Gilvin, who transferred in from Western Kentucky, provided reserve minutes in 24 games but averaged under seven minutes per contest.
The four other departing players were major contributors. Tonie Morgan, the team's primary point guard, had an outstanding season, setting a single-season program record with 286 assists. This mark also ranked as the third-highest assist total in a single season by any Southeastern Conference (SEC) player. Morgan averaged eight assists per game going into the Sweet 16, which ranked her second nationally behind only Northwestern's Caroline Lau. Additionally, Morgan contributed 13.9 points per game, making her the team's second-leading scorer.
Teonni Key, a 6-foot-5 forward, averaged 11.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game during the season. Her blocks average was just outside the top 10 in the SEC, underscoring her defensive impact. Australian native Amelia Hassett, standing 6-foot-4, was another defensive stalwart, ranking in the top 10 in blocks per game with nearly 1.4 rejections. Hassett also consistently contributed offensively, averaging over 10 points and five rebounds per game. Notably, she set a single-season program record for three-point field goals made, knocking down 99 shots from beyond the arc.
Jordan Obi's story was poignant this season. After transferring from Penn, where she amassed over 1,000 points across three seasons in the Ivy League, Obi was expected to play a major role for Kentucky in 2024-25. Unfortunately, an Achilles tendon injury in July 2024 sidelined her for that entire season. Returning to the court in 2025-26, Obi made an immediate impact, scoring 15 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in her debut against Morehead State. She added three more double-doubles throughout the year and posted averages of 9.2 points, six rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, while shooting over 50 percent from the field.
### Returning Players and Team Leaders
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, several key players are set to return and anchor the Wildcats' roster. Leading the way is senior center Clara Strack, a 6-foot-5 standout who dominated Kentucky this season. Strack led the team in points, rebounds, and blocks per game, establishing herself as one of the nation's premier players. She set UK's single-season blocks record in consecutive campaigns and is expected to be a contender for every major individual award next season.
Joining Strack in the frontcourt will be senior guard Asia Boone, a sharpshooter who made 96 three-pointers during the 2025-26 season. Boone's ability to stretch defenses will be vital, especially given the attention Strack commands inside. Boone's shooting prowess should create numerous opportunities for her to continue her scoring production.
At guard, junior Lexi Blue will return, providing depth off the bench. Blue has played in 51 games over the past two seasons, all as a reserve. She has reached double figures in scoring just once, with an 18-point performance against Monmouth last November. Unless she significantly elevates her game, Blue is likely to remain a backup option next season.
Another intriguing potential returnee is freshman Kaelyn Carroll. A McDonald's All-American recruit, Carroll did not receive significant playing time as a freshman but has the talent to compete for a starting spot next year. Given Kentucky's roster turnover, Carroll could emerge as an important contributor.
There are also some uncertainties regarding other players. Dominika Paurová, who signed with Kentucky shortly after Brooks was hired in March 2024, has yet to play a single game due to season-ending injuries in each of the past two years. Her health and availability remain significant questions as the Wildcats plan for next season.
Additionally, Elsa Vadfors, a 6-foot-5 freshman center from Sweden, redshirted the 2025-26 season. If she remains with the program, Vadfors could gradually work her way into the rotation, providing valuable depth and giving Strack occasional rest during games.
### Potential Departures and Transfers
While Kentucky retains a solid core of returning players, some departures could still occur beyond those who have exhausted eligibility. Lexi Blue might consider transferring if she prefers not to serve as a backup for a third consecutive season. Despite limited production at Kentucky, Blue's status as a consensus four-star recruit from Florida suggests she would attract interest from other Division I programs, particularly within her home state.
Kaelyn Carroll could also explore transfer options, although her departure would be surprising given the clear path to playing time available at Kentucky for the 2026-27 season. Dominika Paurová, after two years plagued by injury, might seek a fresh start elsewhere, though such a move would be speculative at this point.
### Incoming Talent and Recruiting Outlook
Kentucky's biggest strength as the team looks forward to next season is its exceptional recruiting class. Coach Kenny Brooks and his staff have secured commitments from three McDonald's All-Americans-an unprecedented haul in the program's history. The class includes two guards, Maddyn Greenway and Emily McDonald, and a forward, Savvy Swords.
Historically, freshmen under Brooks rarely have taken on large roles immediately, but the Wildcats' significant roster turnover could create opportunities for one or more of these highly touted newcomers to contribute right away. The coaching staff will likely evaluate the trio's readiness during offseason workouts and early practices to determine how quickly they can integrate into the lineup.
Kentucky also faces the challenge of replacing the production and leadership lost with the graduation of players like Morgan, Hassett, and Key. Recruiting talented guards to fill the point guard position-previously held by Morgan and Georgia Amoore-will be a top priority for the staff this offseason.
On the frontcourt, replacing the size and shot-blocking ability of Hassett and Key will be critical. Both players stood 6-foot-3 and provided defensive presence and rebounding strength. While Strack remains the centerpiece inside, Kentucky will need to bolster its depth and maintain strong interior defense.
### Looking Ahead
As Kentucky women's basketball closes the book on the 2025-26 season, the program enters a transition phase marked by significant roster changes and fresh opportunities. The departures of key veterans will open spots for returning players and talented newcomers to step into larger roles.
Senior Clara Strack's leadership and dominance will be central to the team's success next season, supported by sharpshooter Asia Boone and potentially by rising players like Kaelyn Carroll and the new McDonald's All-Americans. The coaching staff's ability to fill the point guard vacancy and add frontcourt depth will be crucial in sustaining Kentucky's competitiveness in the SEC and nationally.
With an exciting recruiting class and a solid returning core, the Wildcats have a promising foundation for the 2026-27 campaign. Fans and analysts alike will be eager to see how Coach Brooks molds this evolving roster into a formidable team that can build on recent success and make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
For ongoing coverage of Kentucky basketball, readers can reach out to Ryan Black, Kentucky men's basketball and football reporter, at rblack@gannett.com or follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal under the title "Kentucky women's basketball roster 2026-27 under UK coach Kenny Brooks."