Wisconsin Women’s Basketball Seeks Extended Eligibility for Star Rebounder

MADISON – The Wisconsin women’s basketball team is currently awaiting a decision on an NCAA appeal that could potentially grant Gift Uchenna an additional year of eligibility. The 6-foot-3 forward hails from Nigeria and joined the University of Wisconsin last season after spending a year at Southern Illinois. Before her time in the U.S., she played two seasons at Shih Hsin University in Taipei, Taiwan.

In anticipation of a favorable outcome, the Badgers have reserved a spot on their 2026-27 roster for Uchenna. However, head coach Robin Pingeton and her coaching staff have also begun preparations as if they will not have her for the upcoming season. One notable addition to the team is 6-3 forward Kadidia Toure, who was named the Northeast Conference Player of the Year while at Long Island last season. They are also looking forward to the development of promising sophomore center Dorja Zaja.

During her previous season, Uchenna emerged as a key player for the Badgers, finishing as the team's third-highest scorer with an average of 9.1 points per game, while also leading in rebounds with 8.9 per game. “With the landscape of college athletics, you never know for sure,” Pingeton remarked. “I feel like we put together a pretty good waiver for her, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.”