CARROLLTON, Ga. - UWG head women's basketball coach Joanna Reitz has finalized her 2026 recruiting class, announcing today the addition of six newly signed Wolves, bringing the newcomer total for the 2026-27 roster to eight.
The Wolves previously announced two incoming freshmen in November, and now add five transfers and a third true freshman to the roster. Via the portal, UWG and Reitz added Ongalea Afu, Jaylka Rankin, Trishay Collins, Areille Marc, and Meghan Gentile and signed Liyah Williams from the high school ranks.
"The six new players that we've added to the roster this spring are in line with the type of student-athletes that we recruit here to UWG. They are great teammates, fierce competitors, motivated students, and they love playing basketball," said Reitz. "On the court, they fill some specific roles that we were looking for and a huge credit goes to our assistants for their discipline and energy throughout the transfer portal season."
Afu, an incoming senior joins the Wolves from UNLV where she appeared in 10 games as a junior in 2025-26. Prior to her season at UNLV, Afu was a two-year starter at Murray State College, a NJCAA program in Oklahoma, where she was a part of a team that won 43 games over two seasons. Originally from Sandy, Utah, Afu averaged 12.5 points in 56 career appearances at MSC.
Also from the JUCO ranks is Jayla Rankin. An NJCAA All-American and league Player of the Year at Triton College in Illinois. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native averaged 19.1 points per game as a senior earning the All-American honors while also shooting over 40 percent from the field and helping her team to a 24-win season. Even with the team-high scoring numbers, Rankin dished out an impressive 5.4 assists per game in 2025-26. She ended her Triton College career with 47 starts in 49 career games played and averaged 16.9 points per game.
Collins, a native of Palm Bay, Florida, spent her freshman season at Seton Hall where she redshirted. As a prep player, Collins was an All-Cape Coast Conference selection as a senior and was the league's Defensive Player of the Year as a junior.
Marc joins the Wolves by way of Florida SouthWestern where she appeared in 30 games as a freshman. The Fort Myers, Florida native averaged 7.3 points and 2.7 rebounds as a freshman for the Bucs.
The final transfer, Gentile comes to Carrollton after a season at Division III New Jersey City University. Gentile was an All-Met Honorable Mention selection as well as earning All-District and All-Conference honors after scoring 20.2 points per game last season. A threat from beyond the arc, Gentile poured in 70 three-pointers at a 33 percent clip. In 2024-25, Gentile was a member of the Eastern Michigan team where she appeared in seven games.
Liyah Williams is UWG's third prep signee of the 2026 class and she comes after an All-County and All-Region senior season at Grayson High School. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Williams averaged 9.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game for the Rams. Williams joins Kobi Barnes and Mya Jones who signed with the Wolves back in November.
The Wolves return three players from last year's roster, most notably All-ASUN First Teamer Sydne Tolbert. Her backcourt counterpart Grace O'Gara also returns after starting 30 games and averaging 9.2 points per game as a junior.
"Along with our strong core of returning players, we are excited and ready to take on a new challenge in joining the ultra-competitive United Athletic Conference," added Reitz. "Wolves Fans, get excited about another great season of women's basketball here at UWG!"
Reitz and her team are on campus throughout the summer as they prepare for year one in the UAC in what is the program's third season of Division I women's basketball.
