Michigan women’s basketball adds Ashley Sofilkanich, Kendall Dudley from transfer portal

Along with last season’s star Jordan Hobbs getting drafted to the Seattle Storm, Michigan women’s basketball head coach Kim Barnes Arico had quite the eventful week, with two big pickups from the transfer portal. Barnes Arico, or KBA, officially announced the addition of Bucknell transfer Ashley Sofilkanich and UCLA transfer Kendall Dudley on Tuesday.

More: Jordan Hobbs drafted in third round of WNBA Draft

With starters Hobbs and Greta Kampschroeder both graduating, and reserve center Yulia Grabovskaia transferring, the Wolverines needed some bigs to join a talented backcourt featuring returning sophomore stars Olivia Olson, Syla Swords, and Mila Holloway. After their breakout freshman season, the returning starters are undoubtedly ready for another great run, but all three are listed as guards.

Sofilkanich and Dudley Will Certainly Diversify the Roster

Sofilkanich and Dudley are both forwards, standing at 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-2, respectively, and should prove excellent additions to KBA’s roster. Barnes Arico told MLive that she was looking for players who can do it all.

 “We knew we needed to get somebody that could score on the inside, that can also pass, that was a playmaker, that had great hands, had great length, and could rebound,” Barnes Arico said. Sofilkanich is exactly that, coming off her sophomore season at Bucknell with averages of 19.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game.

New: Incoming 5-star guard Trey McKenney shines for Team USA, speaks on how he can help Michigan

Dudley should fit into the picture just as nicely, what with the breadth of experience she has as only an incoming sophomore. As a freshman at UCLA, Dudley appeared in 37 games off the bench for the NCAA tournament’s No. 1 seed, making for a truly impressive resume going into year two—one that KBA and her team welcome with open arms.

With nine players returning this fall, and three incoming freshmen, the addition of Dudley and Sofilkanich should contribute a fair amount to the chemistry of KBA’s admittedly young squad. With their depth of talent, however, hopes are definitely high for the 2025-2026 season.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms