The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1535358
36 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JUNE/JULY 2025 2025 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY ANTHONY BROOME M ichigan's 2024-25 season went about as well as expected after women's basketball head coach Kim Barnes Arico brought in the highest- ranked (No. 7) recruiting class in school history, headlined by freshman stars Ol- ivia Olson, Syla Swords and Mila Hollo- way, all of whom became starters in their rookie season. The team finished 23-11 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, resetting the bar for the program moving forward. Olson earned Big Ten co-Freshman of the Year honors and joined Swords on the All-Big Ten second team while Holloway earned honorable mention all-confer- ence honors. In addition, Swords will play for Canada's senior team through the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 2026. In continuing to build U-M for a shot at a Big Ten championship and a post- season run in the NCAA Tournament, U-M has stacked another elite class on top of last year's haul. Ranked No. 20 by ESPN, Michigan's 2025 recruiting class includes three top-100 prospects in guard McKenzie Mathurin (No. 39 overall), forward Ciara Byars (No. 67) and wing Jessica Fields (No. 97). "It was really important for us as a staff to follow up this year's recruit- ing class with another strong class for 2025," Barnes Arico said. "We knew we needed to add some dynamic post play, size and rebounding ability. We feel like we really targeted this class with that in mind, while also adding another explo- sive guard to our young core. The three of them really complement each other and add exactly what we need to our current group. "This group was able to spend a lot of time with our current team, and they fit what our program is all about. They are connected and are such great teammates. We talk all the time about our culture and how important that is for us. These three check all the boxes in terms of talent and are also great culture kids, great people and great students. We are thrilled that they will be joining our team." Two new faces join next year from the NCAA transfer portal in wing Kendall Dudley (UCLA) and forward Ashley So- filkanich (Bucknell). Dudley was the No. 18 overall player in the 2024 class, while Sofilkanich joins after earning Patriot League Player of the Year honors last season. "We are so excited with the year we had and the players who are return- ing, along with our incoming freshman class," Barnes Arico said following the season. "We knew we needed to get some experience in a few different areas, so we were really able to target players who are a perfect fit for what we do. Kendall and Ashley both bring so much versatility with their skill sets, and they will allow us to keep playing how we want to play." Kim Barnes Arico and Michigan Stack Another Top-20 Recruiting Class Guard McKenzie Mathurin, the nation's No. 39 overall prospect, headlines Michigan's 2025 recruiting class, which was ranked No. 20 by ESPN. GRAPHIC COURTESY PREP NATION TV