Analysis: Why TCU women’s basketball could be better next season
Many wondered how TCU head coach Mark Campbell would follow up this season’s magical run to the Elite Eight, that included the program’s first Big 12 regular-season and conference tournament championships.
We now know the answer.
Campbell used the momentum generated by stars like Hailey Van Lith to sign another star-studded transfer class that should make the Horned Frogs a Final Four contender next season.
It’s the third straight high level portal class for Campbell and he’s sending a message that TCU plans to stay at the top of women’s college basketball scene. Not only will the Horned Frogs bring in a loaded transfer class, they also return a number of key players from the Elite Eight team.
On paper, TCU has assembled a team that’s bigger and deeper than last year’s roster.
Returning players
Projected returners: Maddie Scherr, Donovyn Hunter, Taylor Bigby, Ella Hamlin, Aaliyah Roberson
Breakdown: Many forgot that TCU signed Scherr last offseason along with Van Lith. Scherr she missed the season with an injury. If healthy she would’ve been a huge part of the historic NCAA touranment run, potentially even being a starter. Scherr started over 50 games in her last two seasons at Kentucky and averaged 12.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists in 2023 with the Wildcats. Scherr’s efficiency numbers weren’t great, but Kentucky went 12-20 her last season.
Scherr will be surrounded by more talent and in a guard friendly system assuming she’s back to 100%. No player developed more over the course of last season than Hunter, who became a full-time starter in early February. Hunter’s defense, ball handling ability and 3-point shooting shined in March Madness and her inclusion in the starting five also brought out the best in Van Lith. Hunter averaged 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament. Her production could see a jump next.
Bigby was the biggest question in terms of which players could enter the portal, but it appears she’ll return to Fort Worth for another year. Bigby lost her starting role to Hunter and her minutes and production dropped down the stretch of the season. However, at her best Bigby is an athletic wing that can impact the game in many ways. She may not start this season, but she should see more touches with Van Lith, Madison Conner and Sedona Prince all moving on.
Roberson is a quality reserve forward that can play power forward or small ball center while Hamlin is the only remaining walk-on from the 2023 season. She was put on scholarship last June.
Incoming transfers and freshmen
Portal additions: Olivia Miles (Notre Dame), Clara Silva (Kentucky), Taliyah Parker (Texas A&M), Marta Suarez (Cal), Kennedy Basham (Arizona State)
Freshmen: Clara Bielefeld (Germany), Sarah Portlock (Australia), Emily Hunter (Nashville)
Breakdown: Headlined by Miles, the Horned Frogs are in contention for the best transfer class in the country. Miles should’ve heard her name called as a top-three pick in Monday’s WNBA Draft, but instead she’ll spend another year in college. There couldn’t be a more perfect replacement for Van Lith than Miles. Miles is a two-time All-American and she’s coming off a year where she averaged a career high 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting a career-high 41% from 3.
She also plays with the same flair and competitive fire that made Van Lith so special. TCU could have back to back Big 12 Player of the Years. Suarez was the second major addition as she’s a proven post scorer that brings great size to the roster at 6-foot-3. Suarez averaged 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds for a Cal team that made the NCAA Tournament. She’s more than capable of filling in the spot left by Agnes Emma-Nnopu.
Silva was the first transfer to commit to TCU and she has plenty of upside. Silva averaged 4.0 points and 2.6 rebounds for Kentucky, but she played behind SEC Defensive Player of the Year Clara Strack. Now Silva, a rising sophomore, should get the first crack at replacing Prince at center. Standing at 6-7, at the very least Silva should be a quality rim protector and she could also flourish in TCU’s pick and roll scheme finishing passes from Miles and Scherr.
Basham is another 6-7 player that gives TCU more size and depth in the front court after she averaged 2.6 blocks per game for the Sun Devils. Parker was a top recruit out of South Grand Prairie and after one season at Texas A&M, she opted to move back closer to home. Parker brings some much needed athleticism to the roster and has tremendous upside as a 6-1 guard.
The incoming freshmen class is big and talented led by the 6-8 Portlock and 6-7 Hunter. Neither player will be asked to immediately contribute thanks to all of the portal additions, but it should be comforting to know TCU has the pair to rely on in case of injury or foul trouble.
On the other hand Bielefeld may be tough to keep off the court as a freshman. Standing at 6-4, the German native was the lead playmaker for the German national team during the FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket last July. Bielefeld first made waves on the international stage in 2023, when she was named MVP of the FIBA U16 Women’s EuroBasket Division B.
With the ability to play four positions and her experience playing professionally, Bielefeld has what it takes to be an immediate impact player off the bench for TCU.
Potential lineup
Starters: Miles, Scherr, Hunter, Suarez, Silva
Sixth man: Bigby
Key reserves: Basham, Parker, Roberson, Bielefeld
Breakdown: The Horned Frogs played mostly with a seven-player rotation this season with Van Lith, Prince and Conner all logging at least 32 minutes per game. TCU could realistically play nine or 10 players each game next season as Campbell will have more options at his disposal.
Miles, Suarez, Silva and Hunter all seem like good bets to start. Scherr and Bigby could be interchangeable as Scherr could be the floor general for the second unit since Hunter and Miles are already two quality lead guards. Bigby might be a more natural fit in the starting lineup as a wing player.
TCU’s bench should be much stronger than a season ago with the additions of Parker and Basham to the second unit that already has Roberson and either Scherr or Bigby. Bielefeld could also provide playmaking off the bench for the Horned Frogs.
The biggest question mark will be how well will TCU shoot it next season as Van Lith, Conner and Emma-Nnopu were all knock down shooters. Miles and Hunter can knock down outside shots, but what about the rest of the roster?
TCU may not be able to shoot it with the same efficiency as last season, but the Horned Frogs have more slashers on the roster this year and that could lead to the Horned Frogs having more ways to score than a season ago.
One thing’s for sure, TCU has everything on its roster it needs for another deep run in March Madness in 2026.
