Coach Kellie Harper continues to build her foundation, as two players officially signed with the class of 2027: Athena Thompson and Katie Muller. Here’s what there is to know about the two prospects and what they can bring to the team as the Tigers’ program continues to rise.
Katie Muller
Height: 6-2
Position: Shooting Guard
Hometown: West Des Moines, Iowa
Muller was the first commitment of the class, officially pledging herself to the program in July. Muller is considered a four-star prospect and the No. 89 overall prospect according to ESPN. PrepHoops Iowa considers her the No. 2 prospect in the state of Iowa, playing at Dowling Catholic High School.
She won a state title as both a freshman and sophomore with the Maroons. As a junior, she showcased her outside shooting with a 35% clip on 3-pointers. She chose Mizzou over offers from other Power 4 schools including Ohio State, Kansas and Wisconsin, led by former Mizzou coach Robin Pingeton.
Muller will join her older sister, Ellie, who is currently a freshman on the team. Ellie leads the Tigers with 10 blocks through three games. The two took their initial visit to Mizzou together. While they weren’t necessarily a package deal, the two always figured they would end up playing together again.
“When I was committing first, I definitely I talked to her about it and made sure it was somewhere that she would want to go to before I made the final decision,” Ellie said.
Athena Thompson
Height: 5-10
Position: Combo Guard
Hometown: Northampton, England
The Tigers’ second and final addition to the class was Athena Thompson, who committed to the program the day before Signing Day. She is originally from Great Britain, but now attends Blair Academy in New Jersey.
She still represents Great Britain on the world stage, playing in the last two U18 Women’s Eurobasket Division B. The two seasons before that, she played at the U16 level. Her run in 2026 was cut short with a dislocated shoulder, recording just three points and three rebounds. When she was healthy in 2025, she averaged 18.1 points and four rebounds in 18 games.
Roster Outlook
Currently, Mizzou is projected to graduate four players following the end of the season. However, three are eligible to return with the new 5-in-5 rule: Abbey Schreacke, Grace Slaughter and Tanyuel Welch.
If they choose not to return, the two incoming freshmen will bring the Tigers up to 10 projected players for the 2027-28 season. This gives coach Harper and her staff a great amount of flexibility in the transfer portal. Here is a look at the potential roster.
Mizzou women’s basketball returns to the court against UT-Martin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Mizzou Arena.
