Honestly, if you took a nap at the end of last season and just woke up to look at the current West Virginia University women's basketball roster, you’d probably think you were looking at the wrong team. It’s been a whirlwind. Gone is the era of JJ Quinerly leading the charge—she’s busy being a pro with the Dallas Wings now. Also gone are staples like Kyah Watson and Tirzah Moore.
Coach Mark Kellogg essentially hit the reset button, but not in a "we're rebuilding" kinda way. It's more of an aggressive retooling. He brought in some serious height and speed through the portal, and the result is a 11-player rotation that feels a bit leaner but potentially more explosive.
The Returners: Keeping the Engine Running
You’ve still got some familiar faces, thank goodness. Jordan Harrison is basically the heartbeat of this team now. As a senior guard standing at 5-foot-6, she’s small but plays like she’s the biggest person on the court. She’s coming off a massive year where she was leading the Big 12 in assists and basically lived in the opponent's jersey on defense.
Then there’s Sydney Shaw. People forget she’s a senior now too. She’s 5-foot-9 and can shoot the lights out when she gets into a rhythm. She and Harrison provide that veteran backcourt stability that Kellogg needs to run his "press and stress" system.
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And we have to talk about Jordan Thomas. She’s a 6-foot-3 sophomore who showed flashes of absolute brilliance as a freshman. She had a bit of a mid-season slump recently, but she just dropped 12 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting against Cincinnati. When she’s on, she gives WVU a post presence they’ve frankly lacked for a few years.
New Faces and Transfer Portal Magic
Kellogg went hunting in the transfer portal and he didn't miss. The addition of Kierra Wheeler and Carter McCray has changed the geometry of the floor for the Mountaineers.
Wheeler, a graduate student from Norfolk State, stands 6-foot-1 and is essentially a walking double-double. She’s started every single game this season. McCray, a junior transfer from Wisconsin (via Northern Kentucky), is also 6-foot-1 and has that "blue-collar" grit West Virginia fans love. Having two 6-foot-plus players who can actually run the floor in a transition offense is a luxury WVU hasn't had in a minute.
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Here is a quick look at how the main rotation breaks down:
- The Guards: Jordan Harrison (Sr.), Sydney Shaw (Sr.), Sydney Woodley (GS), Gia Cooke (RS Jr.), Loghan Johnson (Jr.), and the freshman Madison Parrish.
- The Forwards/Posts: Kierra Wheeler (GS), Carter McCray (Jr.), Riley Makalusky (Jr.), Jordan Thomas (So.), and Célia Rivière (Sr.).
It’s a tight group. Kellogg has mentioned that having only 11 players makes him a little nervous—one or two injuries and you’re suddenly practicing 4-on-4—but it also means everyone on this roster knows they’re going to play.
The "Kellogg System" and Why Size Matters Now
For the last two years, West Virginia won games by being annoying. They pressed, they trapped, and they forced turnovers at a rate that made opposing coaches lose their minds. But they struggled when they didn't get those turnovers. If they had to play a half-court game against a bigger team, they often got bullied in the paint.
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That’s why this specific West Virginia University women's basketball roster is so interesting. By adding McCray, Wheeler, and the 6-foot-3 Célia Rivière (who is a senior from France), Kellogg has size to match the skill. They can actually rebound now. They aren't just relying on Harrison and Woodley to get steals; they can actually defend the rim.
Breaking Down the Key Roles
Sydney Woodley is the defensive specialist. If there is a ball on the floor, she’s probably under the pile. She’s a graduate student who transferred from Long Beach State and she is exactly the kind of "pest" that makes this defense work.
Gia Cooke and Loghan Johnson are the "X-factors." Cooke transferred from Houston and Johnson from Texas Tech. They both have that Big 12 athleticism. Kellogg has called them "elite" potential defenders. If they can stay consistent with their scoring, WVU becomes almost impossible to guard because you can't just focus on Harrison.
What to Watch Moving Forward
The Big 12 is a gauntlet. You’ve got teams like TCU and Kansas State who have legitimate size and WNBA-level talent. For WVU to stay in the Top 25 and make another deep NCAA run, they need two things to happen:
- Bench Depth: With only 11 players, freshmen like Madison Parrish (a 5-foot-11 guard) need to grow up fast.
- Post Consistency: Jordan Thomas needs to stay in her "Cincinnati form." If she and the transfers can own the paint, Harrison and Shaw will have all the space they need to operate on the perimeter.
Keep an eye on the defensive stats. If the Mountaineers are still forcing 20+ turnovers a game while also winning the rebounding battle, they are going to be a nightmare in March. This roster might be smaller in number, but it feels a lot bigger in heart and height than last year's squad.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Paint Points: Check the box scores for "Points in the Paint." If WVU is keeping this even or winning it, their new roster strategy is working.
- Monitor the Foul Trouble: With a short bench of 11 players, watch how Kellogg manages the minutes of his bigs early in the first half.
- Follow the Freshman: Madison Parrish is the only true freshman seeing significant minutes; her development is the key to resting the starters.