Kentucky women’s basketball: Wildcats show off new-look roster at photo day

The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team, fresh off last season’s Southeastern Conference Tournament championship, was back in the gym on Wednesday.

The faces were mostly new but the smiles were just as bright as the Wildcats posed for pictures during the team’s annual photo day at the Joe Craft Center practice gym on UK’s campus.

Only five players remain from the Kentucky squad that finished 19-12 overall, 8-8 in SEC play and bowed out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a loss to Princeton last season. Graduate student Blair Green, who missed all of last season after suffering an Achilles injury in the preseason, will be joined on the UK roster again by grad student Robyn Benton, senior Emma King, junior Nyah Leveretter and sophomore Jada Walker.

Coach Kyra Elzy, entering her third season in charge, brought in additional veteran help via the transfer portal, landing graduate student Adebola Adeyeye (Buffalo) and juniors Maddie Scherr (Oregon), Eniya Russell (South Carolina) and Ajae Petty (LSU).

The Wildcats’ 15-player roster also includes six incoming freshmen. That group includes Kentuckians Amiya Jenkins (2022 Miss Basketball from Anderson County) and Cassidy Rowe (Shelby Valley) along with Tionna Herron (DeSoto, Texas), Saniah Tyler (Florissant, Mo.), Kennedy Cambridge (Nashville, Tenn.) and Zennia Thomas (Lyndhurst, Ohio).

Kentucky has not yet announced its non-conference schedule for the 2022-23 season but the Wildcats should tip off their campaign the week of Nov. 6-12.

The Cats do know they’ll play Virginia Tech (Nov. 21) and Dayton (Nov. 23) as part of the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship, which will be held at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts and Entertainment Center in Nassau, Bahamas.

The date of UK’s annual game against rival Louisville was revealed when the Cardinals announced their non-conference schedule last week. That contest is set for Dec. 11 in Lexington.

UK begins SEC play Dec. 29 with a trip to Missouri.

Two players, Herron and Jenkins, were unable to attend Wednesday’s photo session.

University of Kentucky basketball players clockwise from top, Blair Green, Adebola Adeyeye, Cassidy Rowe, Jada Walker, Maddie Scherr and Saniah Tyler take a selfie during the team’s photo day at the Joe Craft Center on Wednesday.
University of Kentucky basketball players clockwise from top, Blair Green, Adebola Adeyeye, Cassidy Rowe, Jada Walker, Maddie Scherr and Saniah Tyler take a selfie during the team’s photo day at the Joe Craft Center on Wednesday.
University of Kentucky basketball player Robyn Benton, second from left, and head coach Kyra Elzy, second from right, share a laugh during the team’s photo day at the Joe Craft Center on Wednesday.
University of Kentucky basketball player Robyn Benton, second from left, and head coach Kyra Elzy, second from right, share a laugh during the team’s photo day at the Joe Craft Center on Wednesday.

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