Everything changed in Fayetteville this year. Honestly, if you walked into Bud Walton Arena expecting the same vibe from a few seasons ago, you’d probably think you were at the wrong school. The lady razorback basketball roster has undergone a transformation so radical it’s basically a different program. Mike Neighbors is out. Kelsi Musick is in.
And the roster? It’s a wild mix of local legends, international flyers, and SEC veterans trying to find their footing in a new system.
The Neighbors era ended with a thud—a 10-22 season that nobody saw coming. Now, Musick is bringing her high-octane offense from Southwestern Oklahoma State to the Hill. But she isn’t doing it with the same group of players. This roster has been gutted and rebuilt through the portal and some savvy late-cycle recruiting. If you're looking for the familiar faces that defined the last few years, you've got to look closely, because there aren't many left.
Meet the New-Look Lady Razorback Basketball Roster
The guard play has always been the heartbeat of Arkansas basketball. That hasn't changed, but the names on the back of the jerseys certainly have.
Wyvette Mayberry is back for her graduate season, and let’s be real, she’s the glue. She’s a 5-foot-7 guard who originally came over from Kansas, and she’s seen the highs and the lows of this program. She’s joined in the backcourt by Taleyah Jones, a senior who transferred in from Oral Roberts. Jones is a bucket-getter, plain and simple. She averaged double figures before arriving in Fayetteville and brings that "alpha" mentality Musick needs to execute her fast-break schemes.
Then you have the youth. Harmonie Ware is a freshman out of Cleveland, Tennessee, who arrives with a lot of hype. She's 5-foot-10, long, and can defend multiple positions. In a league as physical as the SEC, that’s not just a luxury; it’s a requirement.
The Frontcourt: Size and International Flavor
Arkansas has historically struggled with size in the paint. To fix that, the coaching staff went global.
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- Danika Galea: A 6-foot-3 sophomore from Malta. She’s got incredible touch around the rim and isn't afraid to bang bodies in the post.
- Maria Anis Rodriguez: A 6-foot-1 sophomore forward from Barcelona. She’s the modern "stretch four" who can pull defenders out to the perimeter.
- Ashlynn Chlarson: Standing 6-foot-3, the junior center from Arizona is the rim protector this team desperately lacked last season.
It's a weird dynamic. You've got these international prospects learning the SEC grind alongside local kids like Jenna Lawrence. Lawrence is a 6-foot-3 junior from Farmington, Arkansas. She’s a fan favorite because she stayed home, and she’s finally getting the minutes to show she can be a consistent double-double threat.
The Coaching Shift: From Neighbors to Musick
When Mike Neighbors stepped down in March 2025, it felt like the end of an era. He was a Greenwood native who lived and breathed Hog basketball. But the results had plateaued. The move to hire Kelsi Musick was a signal that the administration wanted a fresh offensive philosophy.
Musick didn't come alone. She brought in a staff that knows the region. Brad Johnson, a legendary high school coach from Farmington who won multiple state titles, joined the bench. He coached Jenna Lawrence in high school, so that connection is already paying dividends. She also kept Lacey Goldwire and Nick Bradford to maintain some semblance of continuity.
This isn't just about X's and O's. It's about culture. Musick's teams are known for shooting a ton of threes and playing at a breakneck pace. To do that, the lady razorback basketball roster had to be conditioned differently. You’ll notice the players look leaner and the rotations are much deeper this year.
Key Players to Watch This Winter
If you're only going to keep an eye on a few players, make it these three. They represent the ceiling for this team.
1. Jada Bates
She’s a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard. Yeah, you read 그 right. A 6-foot-3 guard. She’s a matchup nightmare. If a smaller guard tries to check her, she posts them up. If a big tries to slide with her, she blows by them. She's the "X-factor" that could turn a middle-of-the-pack SEC team into a tournament contender.
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2. Emily Robinson
Another Oral Roberts transfer. She’s a junior guard who knows how to win. She’s scrappy, she hits her free throws, and she doesn't turn the ball over. In Musick's system, where the ball is moving constantly, Robinson is the one making the "pass before the assist."
3. Maryn Archer
A redshirt junior who has battled through injuries. When she’s healthy, she’s one of the quickest players on the floor. Her ability to pressure the ball 94 feet is what triggers the Arkansas defense.
What the Numbers Say
The early stats from the 2025-26 campaign show a team that is still finding its identity. They’re averaging nearly 74 points per game, which is solid, but they’re also giving up about 72. That’s the "Musick Tax"—you’re going to score a lot, but you’re going to give up some easy looks because of the pace.
The shooting percentages are hovering around 40% from the field. That has to get better if they want to survive the January gauntlet against teams like South Carolina or LSU. The bright spot? They’re hitting 75% of their free throws. In close SEC games, that’s often the difference between a signature win and a "what if" loss.
Navigating the 2025-26 Schedule
The non-conference slate was designed to build confidence. They had a big win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff early on and handled business against Central Baptist. But the real tests come in the SEC.
The league is deeper than ever. There are no "night off" games anymore. For this lady razorback basketball roster, the goal isn't necessarily a conference title—that's a tall order with Dawn Staley and Kim Mulkey still lurking. The goal is the NCAA Tournament. They need to hover around .500 in conference play and steal a couple of wins against ranked opponents at home.
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Bud Walton Arena is still a fortress. When the fans show up, the energy is infectious. Musick has mentioned several times that the "home-court advantage" in Fayetteville is why she took the job.
The Realistic Outlook
Is this a Top 25 team right now? Probably not.
But they’re dangerous. They play a style that is hard to prepare for on a one-day turnaround. If Mayberry and Jones are hitting their shots, they can beat anyone. If the frontcourt of Galea and Chlarson can stay out of foul trouble, they can compete with the giants of the SEC.
The biggest hurdle is chemistry. When you have this many new pieces—transfers from the portal, freshmen from overseas, and a new coaching staff—it takes time. Usually, you don't see a team like this peak until February.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're following the Hogs this season, here is how to stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the Rotation: See how many players Musick uses in the first ten minutes. If she’s going 10 or 11 deep, it means she trusts the bench to maintain the tempo.
- Track the 3PT Attempts: This team lives and dies by the arc. If they’re taking fewer than 20 threes, they aren't playing "Musick ball."
- Monitor the Post Points: Keep an eye on Danika Galea’s production. If she can give them 10-12 points a night, it opens up everything for the guards.
- Check the Injury Report: With such a high-pace style, fatigue and minor strains can pile up. Depth is their best friend.
The 2025-26 season is a bridge to the future, but it's a bridge that might just lead back to the Big Dance.