Tayla Thomas ascended to new heights in her second season with Northwestern, becoming a staple of the starting lineup and a necessary sidekick to Grace Sullivan. While Thomas only played less than eight minutes per game in her first-year as a ‘Cat, she averaged over 24 minutes in her sophomore season. The increase saw her point, rebound and block totals skyrocket. Here is a review of Thomas’ breakout season:
Thomas improved nearly every facet of her game from her first to her second year.
The most notable breakout area was Thomas’ confidence with the ball in her hands. This season, the sophomore emerged as an imposing post figure that frequently got good looks at the rim. Her 6-foot-3 stature caused issues for opposing front courts, and time and time again, Caroline Lau or another NU guard found Thomas in proximity to the basket.
Her size and physicality meant that even if she missed a contested layup, she often grabbed the offensive rebound to get another shot attempt.
How did Tayla Thomas get this shot off 🤯#NCAAWBB x 🎥 BTN / @nuwbball pic.twitter.com/qD3HaNrWwX
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) January 6, 2026
Thomas’ growth as an offensive threat saw her averages jump to 9.7 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Sullivan’s growth as an efficient shooter from the free-throw line area also helped Thomas. Sullivan’s craftiness just outside the paint gave Thomas plenty of room to operate and take advantage of one-on-one opportunities. Night in and night out, NU’s frontcourt duo applied pressure at several points in opposing defenses; the lack of shooting and outside playmakers around Thomas and Sullivan limited their impact.
The sophomore also flashed her game-breaking offensive potential on multiple instances this season. She averaged over 11 points in Northwestern’s 6-0 non-conference start and then scored 30 points in a one-point loss to Loyola Chicago.
In the matchup against the Rambers, Thomas took the Wildcat spotlight due to an early injury to Sullivan. She dominated the Loyola Chicago bigs, making 11 of her 17 shots from the field and netting eight free throws. Thomas also grabbed 11 rebounds and had two blocks in an all-around performance that showcased her multi-dimensional potential. In the game, Thomas relentlessly pursued looks at the rim and exhibited a ferocious energy that kept an undermanned Northwestern team in it until the end.
Thomas’ second-highest scoring output on the season was in a blowout loss to Illinois. She scored 25 points, grabbed six rebounds and notably made two three-pointers. Her shooting is an area that will be touched on later, but she flashed the ability to stretch the floor against the Illini. Thomas also showed the ability to take defenders off the dribber in the in-state clash, proving herself as a capable shot-creator.
Overall, Thomas’ improvements came from more experience and added strength and size. The former four-star recruit has always held big-time scoring potential, and she started to come into her own this season. She dominated the paint, absorbed rebounds on both ends of the floor and provided reliable interior defense that repelled opponents driving in the paint.
There are still several areas that Thomas needs to work on if she wants to take another jump.
First, Thomas struggled at times to stay on the floor due to foul trouble. She fouled out in four games this season and had at least three fouls in 17 games. Head coach Joe McKeown was forced to limit Thomas’ minutes in these instances, stripping NU of one of its biggest threats. The foul trouble often resulted from lazy defense by Thomas and uncontrolled rim contests when beat off the bounce.
Thomas’ foul trouble pairs with another improvable area: the occasional lack of defensive effort. While she posted an impressive 1.2 blocks per game, it seemed that at times she pursued the big-time block versus a good contest at the rim. This resulted in Thomas’ foul issues when she didn’t secure the rejection. The sophomore flashed potential to be an elite shot blocker and rim presence; she just needed to maintain intelligence and a high motor when on the court.
Offensively, Thomas needs to improve her ball control. She ranked second on the team in turnovers – 2.4 per game – despite being fifth in minutes played. She appeared loose with the ball at times throughout the season, and it seemed her vision exceeded her actual execution of passes. She averaged fewer than an assist per game, evidence of her lackluster passing. If Thomas continues to dominate the paint at the collegiate level, she will begin to attract double teams on post touches, requiring a greater passing capacity.
Finally, refining Thomas’ shooting could be the key to her unlocking a path to the next level. Thomas showed she could stretch the floor, making multiple threes in two games this season, but shot just 20% from deep overall. Her form features good fundamentals and a steady rhythm, so it’s not unreasonable to expect growth as a shooter; yet, her 65.7 free-throw percentage is a reason for concern. A good free-throw percentage can often translate to a three-point shot, but Thomas struggles from both areas.
Tayla for 3️⃣Thomas hits again from outside as the shot clock expires! pic.twitter.com/HrmrXj1d8X
— Northwestern Women’s Basketball (@nuwbball) February 13, 2026
Thomas has all the tools to take another massive step into her next collegiate season. Still, she will need to work on several areas, including maintaining a consistent motor on defense and shooting from deep.