ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Purdue women’s basketball team took one more step towards the 2025-26 season with Big Ten Media Days up in Rosemont, Ill. Head coach Katie Gearlds, fifth-year guard Madison Layden-Zay and sophomore forward Lana McCarthy visited with the media, television partners and social media groups throughout the morning on Wednesday.
Gearlds highlighted the return of Layden-Zay as one of the top shooters in program history after a season away from the game. A trio of returners in McCarthy, Kendall Puryear and McKenna Layden anchor the culture from previous years.
Purdue welcomed in nine newcomers – six transfers, three freshmen. The transfer group of Taylor Feldman (Northern Arizona), Taylor Henderson (UNC Wilmington), Nya Smith (UNC Greensboro), Saige Stahl (Indiana State), Kiki Smith (Arkansas) and Tara Daye (St. John’s) has spent the summer growing and establishing new roles within the program.
Gearlds welcomed in a talented freshman trio in Israeli guard Hila Karsh, who played on the international stage for her country, 6-foot-7 forward Indiana All-Star Avery Gordon from Brownsburg and hometown product Carley Barrett.