Lobo women tip off summer program with high expectations

Mike Bradbury has been around the college basketball kitchen long enough to know the most promising recipes can fizzle.

Even so, UNM’s longtime women’s coach is excited about the ingredients he’s collected for 2025-26.

The Lobos officially started summer workouts this week with all but one of their 13 roster players on campus. It’s an intriguing mix of returnees (six), junior college transfers (three) and freshmen (four) that has Bradbury eager to don his chef’s hat and start cooking.

“We’ve got size, we’ve got athleticism and we’ve got talent,” Bradbury said. “We are young and you never know how things will come together, but we’ve got a chance to be really good. Things look a lot better than they did a year ago.”

In hindsight, the 2024-25 season had all the makings of a rebuilding year. UNM started summer workouts with just four returning players (one starter) and without an experienced point guard. Prospects dimmed further when 6-foot-3 transfer post Clarissa Craig was lost for the season in October with a shoulder injury.

Nonetheless, the Lobos shook off a sluggish start to finish 18-14 (11-7 in Mountain West play) and tied for fourth place in conference.

UNM then lost All-MWC standout Viané Cumber and starting post Hulda Joaquim to graduation, but three starters (Alyssa Hargrove, Destinee Hooks, Joana Magalhäes) are returning along with Craig and two of last season’s top three reserves (Nayli Padilla and Drew Jordon). Hooks earned All-MWC Honorable Mention last season, while Magalhäes was named to the league’s All-Freshman team.

The Lobos’ returning core has been bolstered by JC players and a freshman class Bradbury ranks among his best. The transfer group includes WBCA National JUCO Player of the Year Cacia Antonio, a 5-11 guard, and posts Emma Najjuma (6-4) and Jessie Joaquim (6-2).

UNM’s freshman class is comprised of 5-6 point guard Laila Abdurraqib, 5-9 guard Tyler Jones, 6-2 guard/forward Kaia Foster and 6-1 forward Leonor Peixinho. Abdurraqib, Jones and Foster began workouts this week, while Peixinho will arrive from her native Portugal later this summer.

Asked about upcoming position battles, Bradbury laughed and said, “It’s going to be a war.”

He conceded that returning players have a leg up in terms of knowing UNM’s system, but Bradbury expects his talented newcomers to push for immediate playing time.

“I don’t know who will start, but there will be competition,” he said. “The freshmen and junior college players we brought in look really good, so the next few months are going to be interesting. What I know right now is we’re definitely ahead of last year. I know it’s only June but we’re pretty excited about this team.”

LUCKY 13?: Barring something unexpected, UNM will likely stick to a 13-player roster for next season. The Lobos are not actively recruiting any additional players and have already begun hosting 2026-27 recruits for campus visits.

“You never say never,” Bradbury said. “If someone slips through the cracks and is a good fit for us, we’ll take a look. But I’d say there’s a 99% chance we’ll go with the 13 we’ve got.”

LANDING SPOTS: All five former UNM players who entered the NCAA transfer portal after last season have signed on with different programs for next season. Their commitments are as follows:

• Lara Langermann, 5-7, jr., G, Albany

• Paris Lauro, 6-0, jr., G, Weber State

• Lydie Mwamba, 5-9, sr., G, Liberty

• Reza Po, 5-2, soph., PG, East Texas A&M

• Lilli Hakkarainen, 5-7, soph., G, UT Tyler (Division II)

Lauro will join former UNM teammate Hannah Robbins at Weber State. Robbins, who entered the portal three games into the 2023-24 season, played at Montana State last season before transferring again. Former Volcano Vista High standout Jaelyn Bates also recently announced she will play at New Mexico Highlands next season. Bates entered the portal in 2023-24 after two seasons at UNM but did not play last season.