Basketball for Women signed Laila Phelia.
Texas’s Austin Head coach Vic Schaefer revealed on Monday that Laila Phelia, pronounced LAY-luh FEEL-ya, has signed an Athletic Scholarship Agreement (ASA) to play basketball at The University of Texas next season. For the next 2024–25 season, Phelia, who has played three seasons at Michigan, will join the Longhorns.
Phelia (6-0), a guard from Cincinnati, Ohio, scored 1,243 points in her NCAA career after playing in 88 games (71 starts).
Vic Schaefer, the head coach of Texas, stated, “We are very excited to welcome Laila and her family to The 40 Acres.” She is a remarkable young woman who gives our team a seasoned presence. She is a proven scorer in the Big Ten and will provide our squad a new offensive dimension in addition to toughness and a spirit of competition. She’s triumphant! She is descended from an amazing family.
Laila’s parents are incredibly encouraging and, from what I can tell, they are also quite happy about this new phase in her life. Laila will blend in perfectly with our present squad’s toughness and competitive attitude, which we have all gotten accustomed to seeing and witnessing. Our fans will enjoy watching Laila play. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Laila Phelia as she joins The University of Texas’ Longhorn Women’s Basketball team.”
This past season, Phelia was recognized as a WBCA Region Finalist after earning first-team All-Big Ten accolades. In 35 minutes per game during her junior season, she averaged 16.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.2 steals. Phelia scored in double figures in all but four of the 33 games she participated in, recording one 30-point and twelve 20-point performances. In addition to being named to the all-tournament team, she guided Michigan to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals and assisted the Wolverines in obtaining their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament participation.
Phelia was named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List, the Wooden Award Watch List, the Naismith Award Watch List, and the preseason All-Big Ten team.
In Colorado Springs, Phelia and Aaliyah Moore, a current Longhorn, participated in the USA Basketball U16 trials together. Phelia competed in the 2023 AmeriCup and won a silver medal for USA Basketball.
Phelia attended Mount Notre Dame High School, where she was the 2019 and 2021 state champion. She had a 72-game winning run going into her senior year of high school. She finished her senior year ranked No. 28 by ESPN, with an average of 16.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. She was also nominated for the McDonald’s All-America Game.
Greg, her father, was a Northern Kentucky basketball player from 1989 to 1993. With 1,310 points, he is ranked 17th in program history.
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