Northwestern women’s basketball was in need of an overhaul.
With the ’Cats are coming off a 2-16 Big Ten record and second-to-last place conference finish — along with the offseason losses of top scorers Caileigh Walsh, Melannie Daley and Taylor Williams — it’s safe to say that NU’s hopes for improvement this year are largely contingent on the quality of new talent. As a result, the Wildcats were active recruiters this offseason, keenly looking for players that can replace the hole left by the departing
trio and help elevate the ‘Cats out of the conference gutter.
The result? Six new players, four from the transfer portal and two first-year recruits. While they all bring differing backgrounds experiences — both in the US and abroad — each player will be thrust into the roster and have numerous opportunities to flex their potential and help turn the program in a positive direction. Let’s talk about each of them.
F DaiJa Turner (transfer)
A 6-foot-3 transfer known for her dominance on the boards and versatile defense, Turner brings four years of prior experience at TCU to the Wildcats as a red-shirt senior.
Turner’s prowess began early on, as she was one of the top high school players in the nation during her time at Village Christian Academy. While with the Knights, she broke North Carolina single-season state record with 260 blocks, a result of her averaging an astonishing 11.8 blocks per game. This was in addition to her 17.8 points per game and 19 double-doubles. Her high school tenure earned her countless accolades, including trophies for Best of 910 Preps Player of the Year and the Eddie White Defensive Player of the Year.
While at TCU, Turner made 34 appearances. Her best year came as a sophomore, where in her first start she had a career-high 14 rebounds, helping earn a place in the starting lineup. She took advantage of the increased role by leading the Horned Frogs in plus-minus rating (+36) and being among their top rebounders that season. While Turner saw more limited playing time junior year, she remained part of a historic TCU squad that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
The Wildcats will undoubtedly benefit from Turner remaining a menace on the glass and a forceful rebounder. Particularly with the departure of Walsh and Williams, the ‘Cats will need someone with the size and strength of Turner to stand out on the court and bring their skillset to bear.
G Tate Walters (transfer)
Walters is a graduate transfer who brings a wealth of experience to the ’Cats squad. During her five years at Furman University, Walters was named three times to an All-Southern Conference team and completed her tenure in the school’s history books, being second in in Furman’s all-time assist list with 453 and 14th in program history with 1,268 points. Her strongest season came as a full-time starter during her sophomore year, where she averaged 12.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists, along with 47 total steals which was good for fifth best in the league that season. While Walters’ upperclassmen years were largely affected by a season-ending injury sustained junior year, she rebounded to have an effective final two years with Paladins, posting double figure averages in points and continuing to dish four assists per game.
Walters brings offensive versatility to NU’s guard room, something that is much needed. While at Furman, Walters became known both for her jump shots and confidence to drive inside, keeping defenses on their toes and flexing her nuanced playmaking. However, Walters’ strength as a passer will also pay dividends for NU, as her role as a facilitator might be even more valuable to the ‘Cats scoring viability.
G Sammy White (transfer)
Wildcat fans may recognize White from her tenure with Northwestern lacrosse, where she was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection and helped lead the team in ground balls and turnovers during the Wildcats championship run in 2023.
Now, the multi-talented White will take off her cleats and lace up her basketball shoes as a graduate transfer. White was previously a star high school basketball player, playing three varsity seasons where she averaged 23 points per game as a junior and was a member of the school’s 1,000 point club.
The tenacity, competitive edge and championship experience White brings could do wonders for NU both on and off the court. As a two-time Towson Times Female Athlete of the Year, she isn’t someone to be trifled with in any sport.
F Sandra Moreno (transfer)
The ‘Cats international recruit hails from Barcelona, Spain, where she played 10 years for the club Basket Almeda. While in high school, Moreno earned MVP honors for spearheading the team’s U16 Catalan Championship run, while helping the club climb to a ninth-place finish in national competition. This past season, Moreno played 31 games and averaged 13.0 points.
Touted by McKeown for her willingness to attack the glass at both ends, Moreno brings speed and versatility to the ‘Cats forward position. As a 6-foot-1 athlete, she can thrive as both a leader in transition and fixture on the glass, making her suitable for a variety of roles on the court.
G Amparo López (first-year)
López is another Spanish native set to join the ‘Cats squad after an outstanding career with the club Valencia B.C in her hometown of Valencia, Spain. López will have a familiar face on the Wildcat squad in Moreno, as both competed against each other in Valencia during a national tournament.
López carries to Evanston a plethora of success, having led her Valencia club to four league titles, both at the U14 Championship and in the Liga Femenina Challenge. In her most recent season, she averaged 12.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals. López was also a team captain for four years, making her a top player and leader. She’s also played for Spain Women’s National team.
McKeown envisions using López as a combo guard, meaning she can function as both a point guard and shooting guard by facilitating the offense and scoring in a multitude of ways. López’s playmaking and shotmaking will bring much-needed offensive firepower to NU’s squad, and there is endless potential for what the freshman can accomplish as a Wildcat.
G Angelina Hodgens (first-year)
Hodgens was a top recruit out of St. Joseph by the Sea high school, where she made her mark as the program’s all-time leading scorer and first in the school’s history to eclipse 2,000 points and 1,000 total rebounds. In her final season as a Viking, she averaged 21.4 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, en route to winning the Warren Jaques award back-to-back times — the first recipient from St. Joseph by the Sea in over 30 years. In the Tier 1 Archdiocese Championship performance, Hodgens dominated with 39 points and 15 rebounds to help her team win the title.
When Hodgens was asked to describe her game in three words, she said “physical, versatile, leader.” Hodgens has the potential to bring all three to Northwestern. Being a scoring threat, rebounder and having proven success in big games are all ingredients for a fantastic basketball player. It’ll be interesting to see how much trust McKeown puts in Hodgens from the get-go, but the ‘Cats may likely something special with this first-year.
