How TCU women’s basketball’s historic roster was built
TCU women’s basketball’s rapid rise from the bottom of the Big 12 to the program’s first league and conference tournament title in just two seasons is a shining example of what’s possible in college basketball’s transfer portal era.
Horned Frogs head coach Mark Campbell has quickly established himself as one of the country’s top portal recruiters after signing marquee names from powerhouse programs to identifying players that could excel with bigger roles.
Ahead of the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2009-10, here’s a look at TCU’s roster and how it came together.
TCU basketball roster
Sedona Prince, graduate student, center: The first team All-Big 12 center started her career at Texas for a season before transferring to Oregon from 2019-22, where Campbell was an assistant coach. Prince committed to TCU in April 2023. Prince averages 17.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks this season. She was voted first team All-Big 12 and to All-Big 12 defensive team.
Hailey Van Lith, graduate student, guard: Van Lith was voted Big 12 Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in her first season in Fort Worth. Van Lith is two-time transfer that spent time at Louisville and LSU before committing to TCU in April 2024. Van Lith led TCU with 17.9 points, 5.3 assists and 4.4 rebounds. Van Lith was voted the Most Outstanding Player in the Big 12 tournament.
Madison Conner, senior, guard: Another first-team All-Big 12 selection, Conner started her career at Arizona before transferring to TCU in April 2023. Conner owns the single-season record for 3-pointers in a season. Conner averages 14.6 points and shot 45% from 3.
Agnes Emma-Nnopu, graduate student, forward: The versatile defender started her career at Stanford before joining TCU in May 2023. Emma-Nnopu averaged 5.9 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Donovyn Hunter, sophomore, guard: Hunter was a massive pickup for TCU this off-season after she helped lead Oregon State to an Elite Eight appearance in 2023. Hunter was recently slotted into the starting lineup in February. Hunter averaged 5.6 points, but scored in double figures two games in the Big 12 Tournament.
Taylor Bigby, redshirt junior, guard: Bigby transferred in from USC in April 2024 after helping the Trojans reach the Elite Eight last season. Bigby started 25 games this season. Bigby averages 6.4 points and 2.6 rebounds.
Deasia Merrill, graduate student, center: The reserve center joined TCU in May 2024 after starting 63 games in four seasons at Georgia State. Merrill averages 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds off the bench.
Aaliyah Roberson, junior, forward: Roberson is one of the few players remaining from the 2022 team that went 1-17 in the Big 12. Roberson averages 5.2 points and started a game in the Big 12 Tournament.
Ella Hamlin, sophomore, guard: Hamlin was one of the “underfrogs” that joined the roster as a walk-on during the 2023-24 season when TCU was ravaged by injuries. Hamlin is the only remaining underfrog still on the roster.
Knisha Godfrey, junior, guard: A Mississippi State transfer, Godfrey joined TCU midway through the 2021-22 season. She made 12 starts in 26 games in that season, but redshirted last year in Campbell’s first season. Godfrey has played in 14 games this season.
DaiJa Turner, redshirt junior, forward: Turner signed with TCU before the 2021 season. Turner played 18 games with three starts last year for TCU. Turner has appeared in nine games this season.
Natalie Mazurek, redshirt senior, center: Mazurek is a South Dakota transfer that joined TCU this season after four years with South Dakota.
Una Jovanovic, senior, guard: The former Cal State Fullerton guard was also apart of the transfer class that included Prince and Conner. She started 32 games last year and has appeared in 21 games this season including the Big 12 Tournament final.
Maddie Scherr, graduate student, guard: Scherr was major acquisition from the transfer portal with Van Lith in the preseason. Scherr started over 50 games at Kentucky, but was ruled out this season for TCU with a season-ending injury.
This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
