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Fifth-year guard Jalyn Brown shoots the ball during practice on Oct. 9 at College Park Center. Brown previously played at Michigan State University.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Photo by Treyson Abe<\/a><\/p>\n Last year, UTA women\u2019s basketball had a 12-21 record, won only four of 18 conference games and was eliminated from the conference tournament in the semifinals.<\/p>\n Now, the Lady Mavericks enter head coach Shereka Wright\u2019s seventh season at the helm with an almost completely different roster from last year. Of the team\u2019s top six players in minutes per game in 2025-26, three graduated and three left for larger programs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first thing that we did as a staff was to evaluate the things that we did do well and the things that we got to continue to improve on,\u201d Wright said. \u201cWe found players that wanted to compete, come in here and win, wanted to work hard and wanted to be able to play as one.\u201d<\/p>\n Only two Lady Mavericks from last season remain in Arlington: redshirt juniors forward Miraya Perkins and guard Amiyah Reynolds.<\/p>\n Perkins was seventh in points per game and ninth in rebounds per game last year, scoring and grabbing an average of 4.6 and 1.8, respectively. She is entering her fourth year at UTA and says that she\u2019s become a team leader.<\/p>\n \u201cMy job is to kind of help lead the team and help the newcomers adjust as best as possible so it could be easy for them,\u201d Perkins said. \u201cUsing what I\u2019ve learned over the past few years, even from past teammates, has really helped me grow into more of a leader.\u201d<\/p>\n Last year, Reynolds shared the court with three members of her family. Amiyah played alongside her big sister, Mila, and her little sister, Kira, while one of the assistant coaches was their dad, Steven Reynolds.<\/p>\n Now, Kira plays at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Mila plays at The University of New Mexico and Steven coaches a charter school in Phoenix, Arizona.<\/p>\n Redshirt junior guard Amiyah Reynolds hits a layup during practice Oct. 9 at College Park Center. Reynolds averaged 2.6 points per game last season.<\/p>\n Photo by Treyson Abe<\/a><\/p>\n The remaining Reynolds sister said that despite the lack of blood relatives by her side, she\u2019s found a different type of family on the court.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always loved playing with my sisters, but in the end, I just made a decision for me, and this was the best situation for me,\u201d Amiyah Reynolds said. \u201cIt was the best environment for me, and probably the place where I can be able to flourish the most.\u201d<\/p>\n To replenish the roster, Wright reached for upperclassman transfers from across the nation and all levels.<\/p>\n One notable addition is guard Jalyn Brown, the team\u2019s only 5th-year player. Brown has spent her entire career at the power-conference level, spending time at the University of Louisville, Arizona State University and Michigan State University.<\/p>\n Junior forward Faith Carson has also played in the Big Ten Conference, spending her first two seasons at The Ohio State University. Also coming to Arlington after years in the Buckeye State is junior guard Liz Murphy, who arrives from The University of Akron.<\/p>\n Junior guard Keshanti Gordon posts a defender up during practice Oct. 9 at College Park Center. Gordon was previously a redshirt at Murray State College.\u00a0<\/p>\n Photo by Treyson Abe<\/a><\/p>\n UTA also brought on talent from the small-college ranks. Three Lady Mavericks come to the program straight from schools in the National Junior College Athletic Association.<\/p>\n Last season, junior forward Katelyn Brinkley led Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in rebounds per game, while junior guards Amaya Williams and Chelsea Bishop respectively led Lamar Community College and Florida SouthWestern State College in scoring.<\/p>\n UTA will play several high-level opponents in its nonconference schedule, including the University of Wyoming, Texas Christian University, Missouri State University and California State University, Fresno.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s important for us is to make sure that we put our teams in a position to gain some confidence, to play some teams within our level, but also those teams who\u2019ve had success,\u201d Wright said. \u201cEach year is different in how you schedule. It\u2019s trying to make sure you put your team in the best position to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n Freshman guard Ahniyah Bennett attempts a layup the ball during practice Oct. 9 at College Park Center. Bennet is from Connersville, Indiana.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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