Out with the old, in with the new.
The Carla Berube era of Northwestern women’s hoops is underway, and that signifies immense change. From the roster makeup, to the style of play, to even the locker room culture, Berube’s combination of youth and experience will bring a breath of fresh air into Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Berube has stressed the importance of the transfer portal in building a program, so it’s no surprise that she has already signed four new players. When looking for potential Wildcats, she said
in her introductory presser that she expects players to “[Compete] at the highest level and [get] a world-class education.” When describing her intended style of play, Berube said, “We’re going to be physical and we’re going to be relentless.”
Thus, being a hard-working student-athlete and having a physical play style are non-negotiable attributes for Berube when looking for players in the portal. Combine this with the fact that NU’s roster lacks size after the departures of Grace Sullivan and Tayla Thomas, and you have a baseline of the players that Berube wants in the portal. Here is how Northwestern’s four transfers fit this mold:
Camdyn Nelson: 5-foot-8 sophomore guard from Syracuse
Nelson was the first transfer Northwestern signed this offseason. A splashy signing for Berube, Nelson is a former four-star recruit and Gatorade Player of the Year winner out of Connecticut. She struggled to see consistent playing time at Syracuse in her first season of college basketball, but flashed loads of potential. She’s good with the ball in her hands and operates at her own pace, always seeming comfortable off the dribble. Nelson is a capable passer, with a knack for finding teammates in the right spots, averaging 4.0 assists per game through her first four collegiate games.
The guard also showed shooting ability in high school at St. Luke’s School, averaging 17.2 points on 39.2% shooting from deep in her senior season. She impacted the game on both ends of the floor in her last year of high school, averaging 2.7 steals per game, although her smaller frame doesn’t translate as well defensively at the college level.
For the Wildcats, Nelson projects as a backup guard who can run the offense and provide a steady ball-handling presence. With players like Casey Harter and Xamiya Walton returning, guard play is a strength for Northwestern, and Nelson only adds reinforcement to that group. Considering she is only a sophomore, Nelson is a long-term project for NU, and could grow into a high-impact player in her upperclassmen years.
Lexi Blue: 6-foot-2 junior guard from Kentucky
Blue played two seasons at Kentucky, contributing to its Sweet Sixteen run this past season. While she struggled to find consistent playing time in her first two years, the lengthy guard steadily showed improvement. The best performance of her career came in November against Monmouth, when Blue scored 18 points on 75% shooting from the field. Although Blue never scored more than 10 points again, she reliably showed up and provided Kentucky with versatility.
Blue ranked as a top-40 recruit when she signed with Kentucky in 2024, winning five high school state championships in her five years spent at Lake Highland Prep in Florida. She averaged 13.9 points and 5.1 assists as a senior, shooting 50.2% from the field and 41.1% from beyond the arc.
The former Kentucky Wildcat and future Northwestern Wildcat brings immense talent and potential to Northwestern, making her another high-upside addition. If Blue can tap back into the shooting ability she displayed in high school, she can be a starter immediately for the ‘Cats. As NU desperately needs size, Blue slots in at the three spot and can be the two-way playmaker that the program has needed for so long. Fluidity at 6-foot-2 is rare; Blue could be a game-changer.
Lily Carmody: 5-foot-11 junior guard from Boston College
Carmody is the lone player on this list who has already transferred in her career, beginning at Butler before going to Boston College for her sophomore season. Carmody is also by far the most proven addition for Berube, having logged over 20 minutes per game at both of her prior schools. At Boston College, she started 29 of the 30 games she played in, averaging 12.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists. In the final eight games of the year, The guard averaged over 16 points per game as she tried to will her team into the ACC tournament.
Carmody is a capable shooter and passer, but her true expertise comes in the painted area. She is an aggressive straight-line driver with good touch around the rim and is frequently moving without the ball to find open space. Carmody plays much bigger than her listed height would suggest, as she thrives on taking advantage of mismatches.
The rising junior brings a skillset to Northwestern that it hasn’t had in a while. She likely will start for the Wildcats and play a prominent role in the offense. Carmody could model what Madison St. Rose did this past season as Princeton’s primary shot creator, averaging 15.8 points and leading Berube’s Tigers to March Madness. While Wildcat fans are used to a slower-paced, frontcourt-centric offense, Carmody’s aggressive, quick style will offer a different viewing experience. She loves contact and will put her body on the line to put the ball in the hoop.
Jasmyn Cooper: 6-foot-1 sophomore forward from Syracuse
Cooper is another player who struggled elsewhere at the high-major level, but who Berube believes in. She brings size and athleticism to the ‘Cats, and advanced to the Round of 32 this past season with her Syracuse teammate Nelson. She averaged 3.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in her first year and scored 11 points against Louisville and eight against Boston College.
The forward is a former three-star recruit after averaging 16.4 points and 8.2 rebounds in high school. When at her best, Cooper is a do-it-all player who contributes to winning basketball.
Like Blue, Cooper brings the size that the Wildcats desperately need. Although she is still raw and unproven, Cooper’s versatility could get her onto the court immediately. There is a gaping hole in the NU frontcourt, so Cooper may be forced to play big minutes early. If so, expect to see a driven basketball player who does whatever it takes to win.
Berube’s four additions are solid transfers, but the current roster still has several holes in many areas. If NU doesn’t sign any more players out of the transfer portal, next season might be another year of losing. However, Berube’s rebuild is just getting started. She may need several years to reconstruct the program via the transfer portal and high school recruiting, but her track record warrants patience.
