The University of North Dakota's women's basketball program is already building for the 2026-27 season, and the roster is starting to take shape with some exciting new additions. On Thursday, the Fighting Hawks announced two incoming transfers: 6-foot-1 forward Aliyah Green and 5-foot-8 guard Jayda Maves, signaling a fresh chapter for the team.
Maves comes to Grand Forks after three standout seasons at Western Colorado, where she played under Adam Jacobson—now UND's new assistant coach. That connection could be key, as Maves seems like a natural fit for head coach Dennis Hutter's 3-point-heavy offense. She shot an impressive 42.8% from beyond the arc this season, ranking fifth in all of Division II, and averaged 2.7 triples per game. Beyond her sharpshooting, Maves put up 13.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, earning All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Second Team honors. She was a starter throughout her entire college career at Western Colorado.
Green brings a different kind of firepower. As a freshman at Butler Community College, the 6-foot-1 forward averaged 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, but it's her defense that really stands out. She was named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Defensive Player of the Year—an award she also won twice in high school at Andover. That kind of defensive pedigree will be a welcome boost for UND.
These two join Ciona Wells, a 5-foot-7 guard who was UND's first transfer portal addition earlier this month. Wells made 38 starts over two seasons at Western Oregon, averaging 9.2 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. She also posted a 3.03 assist-to-turnover ratio this season—the best in all of Division II basketball—showing she can run the offense with precision.
The Hawks are undergoing a significant roster overhaul. In the 2025-26 season, they had four seniors and graduate students, and five additional players entered the transfer portal. While sophomore forward Finley Ohnstad withdrew her name, the team is still losing its top four scorers between graduations and departures. Key losses include Ava Miller, a 6-foot-2 forward who started 28 games and averaged 7.9 points and 7.3 rebounds as a sophomore, now transferring to South Dakota. Sophomore Skyler Volmer, a 5-foot-9 guard who started 11 games and averaged 3.9 points, is heading to Dakota Wesleyan. Mataeya Mathern, a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard who saw increased playing time late in the season, recently committed to Jamestown. Redshirt freshman Anaiyah Fletcher, a 6-foot forward who appeared in 14 games, has not yet announced her next destination.
With a mix of proven scorers, defensive standouts, and a new assistant coach's influence, UND is laying the groundwork for a competitive rebuild. These transfers bring both experience and versatility—key ingredients for a team looking to reload and make noise in the years ahead.