Northwestern University’s women’s basketball program is gearing up for the 2026‑27 campaign, marking the first full season under head coach Carla Berube since she arrived from Princeton.
The Wildcats will enter the season without four of last year’s primary rotation players, a loss that forces a reshaping of the team’s identity.
To fill the void, the program has added four transfers, each bringing a different skill set that could reshape the lineup.
A Strategic Overhaul
Among the newcomers, Xamiya Walton is slated to assume the primary ball‑handling duties, while Lily Carmody arrives as the most potent scoring threat from the portal.
Casey Harter, the most impactful returning player, provides a steady presence, complemented by versatile guard Lexi Blue, who can operate both on the wing and in the post.
Raw prospect Jasmyn Cooper‑Derba may see immediate minutes because of the team’s need for size, while Camdyn Nelson offers depth at the guard position.
Freshman Xyanna Walton, a highly touted recruit, could emerge as one of the program’s next stars, and bench options such as Kat Righeimer and Claire Keswick showed promise in limited action late last season.
Veteran mentors like Rachel Mutombo continue to model the Northwestern ethos, while younger players such as Brooke Golden and Crystal Fuqu Wang adapt to the rigors of major‑conference play.
Coach Berube’s track record at Princeton suggests she can translate success to Evanston, but the reality is that a complete overhaul cannot be achieved in a single offseason.