Badgers land second transfer under new head coach

The Badgers are starting to put things together in the transfer portal.

The Wisconsin Badgers women’s basketball program landed another transfer portal commitment under new head coach Robin Pingeton. Southern Illinois forward Gift Uchenna, one of the best rebounders in women’s college basketball, will play in Madison for the 2025-26 season.

Uchenna, a 6’3’’ forward from Nigeria, started all 30 games for Southern Illinois and was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Third Team and the MVC All-Newcomer team. That was despite playing for a Salukis team that went 4-26 on the season.

One of the nation’s leading rebounders, Uchenna finished the season with 12.8 rebounds per game, good for second in the nation and fourth with 21 double-doubles. In addition, Uchenna led the Salukis with 14.5 points and 2.1 blocks per game. Her best game of the season came against IU-Indianapolis on November 16, 2024, where Uchenna scored 34 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in an 85-80 Southern Illinois win.

Before joining Southern Illinois, Uchenna played two seasons at Shih Hsin University in Taipei, Taiwan. According to Sean Davis of BadgerExtra, Uchenna helped lead the university to two University Basketball Association College Basketball League championships. In her last game in Taiwan, Uchenna earned 2024 “Rebound and Block Queen honors” and tournament MVP honors with a 32-point, 27-rebound performance against National Taiwan Normal University in the championship game.

Three players entered the transfer portal after Marisa Moseley resigned as the Badgers women’s basketball head coach. The most notable of the losses was All-Big Ten forward Serah Williams, who led the Badgers with 19.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks. Landing a prolific rebounder like Uchenna is a step in the right direction.

Uchenna joins former NC State guard Laci Steele as the Badgers’ second commitment in the transfer portal. She will have one final year of eligibility left.