Wilson the latest Lobo to enter transfer portal
UNM women have visits set to address sparse roster
Mike Bradbury expected to encounter some roster turnover this spring — but not necessarily like this.
Nyah Wilson joined six of her recent University of New Mexico women’s basketball teammates Friday, announcing she is entering the transfer portal. Wilson was the Lobos’ leading scorer in 2023-24, averaging 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. The Syracuse transfer was named All-Mountain West and conference Newcomer of the Year.
Wilson’s departure came as a surprise, Bradbury said, as she had initially informed UNM’s coaching staff she intended to stay. But Wilson said in Friday’s social media announcement she is leaving for family reasons.
“She wants to play closer to home,” Bradbury said of Wilson, a Dallas native. “Nyah obviously had a great year and was a big part of our team. I’m glad she came here. It was a surprise the way it happened, but you can’t be disappointed. This is normal now.”
Still, UNM’s seven transfer portal entries coming in a week when All-MWC point guard Aniyah Augmon announced she will forgo her final season of eligibility, dramatically changes the offseason outlook for the Lobos. Bradbury conceded that Augmon’s loss was difficult but fully supported her decision.
“Aniyah is a great competitor and we have such a great relationship,” Bradbury said. “I’ll miss having her here but I’m glad she made the decision to do what’s right for her. She was banged up to the point that I didn’t want her to play in some games this year. But she was our team leader and she was determined.”
Less surprising was graduate center Charlotte Kohl’s recent decision not to return for a fifth collegiate season. The 6-foot-5 Kohl was a starter for the Lobos but her minutes dwindled late in the season. She plans to return to Germany to fulfill educational obligations.
That leaves UNM with five returning players (Viané Cumber, Lara Langermann, Hulda Joaquim, Paris Lauro and Gianna McManaman) and incoming freshman Reza Po.
Bradbury does not expect the roster to remain sparsely populated for long.
With hundreds of players already in the transfer portal and hundreds more expected to join them as teams are eliminated from postseason play, UNM’s staff will have plenty of options from which to choose. The roster rebuild is already under way, Bradbury said.
“I’ve probably talked to around 80 players in the last week,” he said, adding that UNM has five campus visits scheduled for April. “You honestly can’t be surprised by it any more. Pretty much every team will go through this to some degree every year. You just have to adapt.”
Wilson, who played sparingly at Syracuse, thanked Bradbury, his staff and her UNM teammates and fans for their support in 2023-24.
She said Bradbury’s “unwavering belief in my abilities reignited my passion for basketball.”
She added, “I carry with me invaluable lessons and cherished memories from my time at New Mexico.”