Texas women’s basketball added former Michigan guard Laila Phelia to its 2024-25 roster. Announced on April 22, Phelia is head coach Vic Schaefer’s first recruit out of the current transfer portal.

“We are very excited to welcome Laila and her family to The 40 Acres,” Schaefer said. “She is an outstanding young lady who brings a veteran presence to our team.”

In her three years at Michigan, the six-foot guard appeared in 88 games, starting in 71 of them, and tallied 1,243 total points. In her junior season, Phelia averaged 16.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 35 minutes per game, leading the Wolverines to the Big 10 tournament semifinals and earning all-tournament team honors. Similar to Texas standout freshman Madison Booker, Phelia was named to a number of watch lists heading into her junior season, including the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List, Wooden Award Watch List and Naismith Award Watch List.

“She is a proven scorer in the Big 10 and will add not only another offensive dimension to our team but will bring toughness and a competitive spirit as well,” Schaefer said.

Phelia is no stranger to some faces on the Texas squad. She played with current junior forward Aaliyah Moore in the USA Basketball U16 trials and won a silver medal with the national team in the 2023 AmeriCup

Phelia’s arrival comes along with the announcement of senior forward DeYona Gaston’s commitment to Auburn and freshman center Tionna Herron’s decision to enter the transfer portal, spots that Schaefer has been busy trying to fill with the portal. 

Phelia will be joining freshmen Justice Carlton, Jordan Lee and Bryanna Preston in their debuts for the Longhorns in the fall. 

“She’s a winner,” Schaefer said. “Our fans will love watching Laila play, and she will fit right in with our current team, their toughness and (the) competitive spirit that we have all grown (accustomed) to seeing and watching.”