Rutgers University has announced the addition of eight new players to its women’s basketball roster for the 2025-26 season. The newcomers bring a mix of experience and youth, joining from programs across the country and internationally.
Faith Blackstone, a graduate student guard from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, joins after helping Stephen F. Austin win the Southland Tournament Championship and secure a spot in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. She was named a First-Team All-Conference selection after leading her team with 14.8 points per game, along with 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.8 steals. Previously, at Coppin State during the 2023-24 season, Blackstone earned several honors including MEAC Sixth Player of the Year and First Team All-MEAC.
“Faith is a proven and versatile scorer who will have an immediate impact on our team. She is an experienced player and has had tremendous success at all levels. She brings a winning pedigree with postseason participation to our locker room, along with a strong work ethic. We are delighted that Faith Blackstone is joining our family,” said head coach Coquese Washington.
Kaylah Ivey arrives as a graduate student guard from Forestville, Maryland. Ivey spent four seasons at Boston College where she led the ACC in her senior year with a 3.3 assist/turnover ratio on 160 assists and 49 turnovers—ranking third nationally in this category. She set an ACC single-game record since 2002 by recording 16 assists without any turnovers against Miami on January 16 and finished eighth in Boston College program history with 455 career assists.
“Kaylah Ivey is a player with elite point guard skills. She has tremendous court vision, and her passing is artistry. She is a consummate leader, whose presence on the court immediately makes her teammates better. Quite simply, we have a top-notch floor general in Kaylah Ivey,” Washington stated.
Imani Lester joins as a junior forward from Raleigh, North Carolina after two seasons at Kansas State where she contributed to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in the NCAA Tournament during their 28-8 season record. Lester appeared in 34 games last season and set multiple career-highs.
“Imani is another great addition to our program. She is a highly talented and versatile forward who, like Zachara Perkins, has a strong basketball pedigree. Imani is highly competitive and possesses an impressive basketball IQ. She has NCAA Tournament experience which will pay significant dividends. Most importantly, her skill set will allow us to move her around and create mismatches on the court. I am beyond thrilled that Imani has joined our program,” said Washington.
Nene Ndiaye comes from Saly, Senegal as a junior forward after two seasons at Boston College where she played in 30 games last season—including ten starts—and averaged 4.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
“Nene Ndiaye is an outstanding athlete, whose length speed and quickness will be impactful on both ends of the floor. She is dynamic in transition offensively and has the ability to finish at the rim with creativity. Defensive intensity is a strength and adding her defensive mindset to our team is a definite plus,” said Washington.
Yacine N’diaye joins as another junior forward from Pout, Thies, Senegal following two years at UNCG (University of North Carolina Greensboro). N’diaye helped lead UNCG to its first SoCon Tournament Championship since joining Division I basketball as well as an NCAA tournament berth during the historic 2024-25 campaign; she finished second on her team with 21 blocks over 27 games last season.
“Yacine is a tremendous addition to our Scarlet Knights family. She is an outstanding athlete whose best basketball is ahead of her. Yacine will provide size, depth and versatility to our interior play. It’s exciting to imagine the ways in which she will positively impact us on both sides of the ball,” Washington commented.
Sophomore guard Lauryn Swann comes from Queens, New York after spending her freshman year at Arizona where she was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team for the past season while averaging eight points per game over thirty-one appearances—including five starts—and making fifty three-pointers over that span.
“Lauryn Swann has the speed, toughness and skill to dominate both offensively and defensively. She is a three-level scorer and plays with a high degree of confidence. She is a true combo guard possessing masterful ability to create for herself or teammates,” said Washington.
Two freshmen also join: Makylah Moore—a six-foot guard out of Brooklyn’s Nazareth High School who averaged more than twenty-one points per game last year while leading her team through multiple championships—and PreciousGem Wheeler—a six-three forward from Franklin High School (New Jersey) who averaged nearly ten points per game along with seven-and-a-half rebounds during her sophomore year helping lead Franklin into county tournament semifinals.
On Moore: “Having Makylah join our team is a wonderful way to finalize our roster…She played her club ball for NY Gauchos; we have had other Gauchos players like Matee Ajavon Kahleah Copper Betnijah Laney come here shine—we look forward Makylah following footsteps.” On Wheeler: “Precious is wonderful addition…high energy person brings toughness athleticism…homegrown talent means so much—we love passionate about building hometown team one nation’s elite.”
The new class reflects Rutgers’ effort to build competitiveness for upcoming seasons by bringing together transfers from major conferences alongside local high school talent.
