New Arizona women’s basketball coach Becky Burke revealed during her introductory press conference Friday that she had begun reaching out to former Wildcats in the transfer portal. However, sophomore forward Breya Cunningham has already finalized her next step, committing to the Texas Longhorns.
Cunningham joins a Texas squad coming off a standout 2023-24 season, where the team went 35-4 overall, claimed a 15-1 SEC record, and reached the Final Four before being eliminated by eventual champion South Carolina.
During her two seasons at Arizona, Cunningham showcased flashes of dominance but struggled with persistent foul trouble. Starting 64 of 66 games, she averaged 7.7 points and 4.7 rebounds as a freshman, improving to 11.0 points (56% shooting) and 7.0 rebounds per game as a sophomore. On a per-40-minute basis, her stats soared to 19 points and 12 rebounds, highlighting her potential. However, her playing time was capped at 23.1 minutes per game due to averaging 3.6 fouls per contest (6.2 per 40 minutes).
With her combination of size and skill, Cunningham was a sought-after transfer. Texas, a perennial powerhouse, offers a platform to refine her game.
She is the third Arizona player to declare a transfer destination since coach Adia Barnes departed for SMU. Guard Jada Williams chose Iowa State, while forward Skylar Jones landed at Louisville. Four other Wildcats remain undecided. Arizona’s roster has also seen three players follow Barnes to SMU, alongside decommitments from high school recruits and incoming transfers. The current lineup features returner Montaya Dew and Buffalo transfer Lani Cornfield.
Update: Former Arizona forward Ajae Yoakum announced her transfer to Portland State, reducing the number of uncommitted Wildcats in the portal to three.
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