The Texas women’s basketball program has lost an expected contributor on a buzzer beater.
A team spokesperson confirmed to the American-Statesman on Wednesday that senior guard Laila Phelia has entered the transfer portal. Wednesday was the final day that the transfer portal remained open to new entrants in women’s basketball.
The X account @SkimMilkey reported the news of Phelia’s departure.
Phelia spent the first three years of her collegiate career at Michigan, and she was an all-conference honoree and the Wolverines’ leading scorer during the 2023-24 season. Last April, she decided to transfer to Texas.
Texas expected Phelia to start this season, but she suffered a detached retina in her left eye during the summer. Phelia never fully recovered from that injury and took a medical redshirt after playing in eight games. While coming off the bench in each of her appearances this season, she averaged 6.1 points and 19.4 minutes per game.
During the NCAA Tournament, Phelia shared that she still had one additional surgery set for this month. But Phelia said she was “hyped” about returning to the court with this Texas team next season.
“I’m just really excited to get back out there with them,” Phelia said.
Instead, Phelia becomes UT’s sixth offseason departure. Starters Shay Holle and Taylor Jones had exhausted their eligibility, but reserves Jordana Codio (Seton Hall) and Abbie Boutilier (Eastern Illinois) have transferred elsewhere. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, who started 15 times during the 2024-25 season, entered the transfer portal last week.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Laila Phelia, a Texas women’s basketball guard, enters transfer portal