Kentucky women's basketball 2025-26 Season Preview: Projected starting lineup, impact players and rotation explored
Coach Kenny Brooks jump-started Kentucky's women's basketball program in 2024-25. Now for an encore, he has to reconfigure his team after Georgia Amoore headed to the WNBA. Kentucky returns a solid frontcourt and will try to construct a backcourt out of the transfer portal. Here's a rundown on Kentucky's personnel heading into next season.
Kentucky women's basketball season preview for 2024-25
Starting Lineup
Guard: Tonie Morgan
A 5-foot-9 transfer from Georgia Tech, Morgan averaged 13.7 points and 5.6 assists per game last year. She's earned a second-team All-ACC selection twice. Morgan isn't a great perimeter shooter, but is a solid leader and ballhandler. Kentucky needs a big season from her, not that even Morgan can fill Georgia Amoore's massive shoes.
Guard: Asia Boone
Boone was a steady player at Liberty, who Kentucky hosted in the first round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Boone averaged 10.2 ppg last year at Liberty and was a 36.9% 3-point shooter. She's perhaps the best-equipped Kentucky guard to emerge as a perimeter threat, which is likely to be significant to the team's development.
Forward: Clara Strack
The 6-foot-5 Strack was a star a season ago, averaging 15.4 points and 9.7 boards per game. Strack was also second in the SEC in blocked shots with 73. She's an All-SEC level player who will have to continue to emerge as a low-block star to keep Kentucky moving forward.
Forward: Teonni Key
The 6-foot-4 Key was impressive a season ago, averaging 11.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Key was fifth in the SEC in blocked shots and she and Clara Strack are one of the best 1-2 low post combinations in the SEC, if not in all of college basketball. She's an important returnee and could become a star for Kentucky.
Forward: Amelia Hassett
Another returning starter from a year ago, the 6-foot-3 Hassett is always a solid contributor who plays hard. She posted averages of 8.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season. Hassett is a 32.7% 3-point shooter, which could prove important without Amoore's perimeter stroke around in 2025-26.
Rotation Players
Freshman Kaelyn Carroll will be another talented forward who will have to earn some minutes in the frontcourt. Western Kentucky transfer Josie Gilvin is a glue player who can do a bit of everything, particularly on defense, from a wing position.
Penn transfer Jordan Obi missed last year, but was a wing in the Ivy League. Redshirt Dominika Paurova could also help off the bench.
Impact Players
Morgan will be a key ingredient on a team with size and frontcourt experience, but a retooled backcourt. Strack is probably the best player, but much of Kentucky's success will depend on developing a guard rotation that can complement the impressive talent up front.
What do you think of Kentucky's next squad? Share your take below in our comments section!