Junior college star signs with UNM women's basketball

Cacia Antonio has already played a starring role as a college basketball player in New Mexico. She’s ready to try it at the next level.

Antonio, who was named national WBCA Two-Year College Player of the Year last season, has signed to play with the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team. A 5-foot-11 guard from Luanda, Angola, Antonio spent the past two seasons at New Mexico Junior College and earned NJCAA D1 All-American honors after each campaign.

As a sophomore, Antonio started at point guard and led the Thunderbirds to a 30-4 record, helping them advance to the NJCAA D1 Tournament quarterfinals. Antonio averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.9 steals in 31.4 minutes per game.

Antonio visited UNM’s campus during the fall semester and attended a women’s soccer game with last season’s women’s basketball team. She was heavily recruited throughout the nation.

“We felt like she was the best junior college player in the country,” UNM coach Mike Bradbury said, “and we weren’t the only ones who thought so. Super excited to add Cacia to our team.”

Antonio is the second NMJC player to sign with the Lobos, joining 6-4 post Emma Najjuma, who was a freshman for the T-Birds last season. While Najjuma brings needed size and athleticism to UNM’s roster, Antonio is more polished. She spent several seasons competing for Angola’s national teams and is a potential difference-maker for the Lobos, Bradbury said.

“She’s really athletic, handles the ball really well and is a great defender,” he said. “Cacia can hit 3’s but she really stands out getting to the basket and breaking down a defense.”

Antonio posted 15 double-doubles during her NMJC tenure, seven of them last season. She scored 20 points or more 15 times for the T-Birds and was named NJCAA D1 All-American Honorable Mention as a freshman and All-American Second Team as a sophomore.

Antonio was named WBCA National Player of the Year in March.

“It is an incredible honor,” Antonio said on an Instagram post after learning of the honor. “I would like to thank my teammates, my coach, our fans and my family for all their support. I appreciate it.”

Antonio’s signing brings UNM’s roster to 12 players for 2025-26. She is the third junior college player, joining Najjuma and forward Jessie Joaquim.

The Lobos also have six retuning players and three incoming freshmen.

Bradbury hopes to sign two more players, preferably guards, in the coming weeks.

TEXAS BOUND: Point guard Reza Po became the first 2024-25 UNM player to officially sign elsewhere after entering the NCAA transfer portal. Po will play at East Texas A&M next season after averaging 2.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18 games for the Lobos last season.

At East Texas A&M, Po will play for coach Val King, Bradbury’s longtime assistant at UNM. Ex-Lobos Jaedyn De La Cerda and Madi Washington are members of King’s coaching staff.

Four other former-UNM players, Lydie Mwamba, Lara Langermann, Lilli Hakkarainen and Paris Lauro, entered the portal and have yet to sign elsewhere.