Kentucky women’s basketball is absolutely loaded with talent from top to bottom this season. The Cats put it on full display Tuesday, rolling to an 85-42 win over Morehead State.
The Wildcats are one of only two teams in the entire country boasting five former McDonald’s All-Americans on their roster. Even more impressive, two of those elite playmakers came from the same high school program.
Emily McDonald and Savvy Swords arrived in Lexington with massive expectations, and they both made an immediate
impact in their college debuts.
Swords was the first player off the bench for head coach Kenny Brooks, dominating the glass with 11 rebounds and chipping in six points. McDonald wasted no time finding her offensive rhythm, finishing with 10 points and two rebounds.
Watching them operate together on the court felt like a seamless continuation of their high school days at Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, New York. That natural connection is no accident. The two are not just teammates; they are roommates who share a deep bond off the court too.
When I asked about their relationship, McDonald made it clear how much that familiarity helps with the transition to college.
“We are roommates, so it’s been a lot of fun coming in here with someone I already knew and going through freshman year with her. I think we have all had ups and downs since we got here… Me and Savvy are like the same person.”
That showed up in their room, too. Savvy let me know, “We are very similar. It’s so funny, when we were like making our dorm room, we didn’t talk about this at all; we had this same throw blanket, same vibe in the room.”
That identical vibe is already translating into production on the court.
For Swords, though, the recruiting process also required a delicate balance of wanting her friend to join her in Lexington without being overbearing.
“When she was talking like Kentucky was in her top, I was trying to push but not like too much. I wanted her to make her own decision. But yeah, it has been a continuation.”
Both players also bring really solid resumes to Lexington.
McDonald, a Buffalo, New York native ranked as the No. 23 player in the Class of 2026 by ESPN, is a certified perimeter sniper.
She proved it by winning both the girls and co-ed 3-point championships at the McDonald’s All-American Game. Before teaming up with Swords at Lutheran and helping the team to a 19-5 overall record as a senior, she dominated at St. Mary’s of Lancaster.
There, she racked up two All-Catholic First Team selections, two All-State nods, and team MVP honors in consecutive seasons, while Savvy Swords brings elite international experience to the Wildcats.
The highly touted freshman explored basketball well outside of New York, starring in the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup during the summer of 2026.
She helped Canada to a silver medal finish and earned a well-deserved spot on the All-Star Five tournament team. During that run, Swords averaged 16.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, adding yet another silver medal to her international collection (3).
These two freshmen have a rare, battle-tested connection off the court and a highly complementary skill set on it. As the Wildcats chase a championship this season, McDonald and Swords are primed to play a massive part in everything Kentucky accomplishes.
Because of their built-in connection, there will be no awkward feel-out process, which is why the two former teammates turned roommates are a cheat code for Kenny Brooks this year.
