The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 13 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Forward Ashley Sofilkanich played two seasons at Bucknell, where she was named third-team All-Patriot L ea g u e i n 2 02 3 -24 a n d Pa t r i o t League Player of the Year in 2024- 25, before transferring to Michigan. Sofilkanich started all 35 contests for U-M last year, averaging 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game to help the Wolverines reach the Elite Eight. Here are some things about Sofil- kanich you may not have known: Best Aspect Of Being From South Amboy, N.J.: "We have a really great waterfront park on the Raritan Bay. Me and my mom love to go on walks down there when I'm home." Favorite Restaurant In Ann Arbor: "Mani Osteria and Slurping Turtle." Best Meal She Can Cook By Herself: "Me and [senior guard] Macy [Brown] usually make a ground beef bowl with rice, vegetables and cottage cheese. That's my go-to, fa- vorite thing to cook." Favorite Professional Athlete: "Right now, [New York Knicks cen- ter-forward] Karl-Anthony Towns. He's actually from my area, so I love that. I am a Knicks fan and got to be in New York for the NBA Finals, so that was awesome." Sport She Enjoys Besides Basketball: "I love playing volleyball." Favorite Movie: "'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days' and 'People We Meet on Vacation.'" Favorite TV Show: "'Castle.'" Why She Chose Michigan: "The reputation that the block 'M' holds was super admirable and outstanding. You can go anywhere, and if you're wearing a block 'M,' someone will yell 'Go Blue' at you. I thought it's so universal and so amazing that one school could have that great of a reputa- tion. I absolutely loved Ann Arbor. I loved our facilities, and I think Coach [Kim Barnes] Arico is such a phenomenal coach." What She Hopes To Do After Michigan: "I would love to play in the WNBA, if they would have me. If that doesn't work out, I'd love to play professionally overseas for a year or two, just to be able to continue playing the sport I love, travel and see the world. I'm a political science major, and I'm hoping to get a job in government, possibly something with homeland security or that type of route. And maybe coach high school basketball." Favorite Memory At Michigan: "When we beat Ohio State [88-86 in overtime in Columbus]. I actually fouled out of that game. But seeing people step up and fill roles that they maybe weren't ready for or they didn't think was go- ing to happen that day, people stepped up in such big ways. And you really saw what it meant to be on a team, where you never know what's going to happen. Winning that game on the road, at Ohio State, I just remember being in the locker room celebration. We were so excited and so happy." Overall Experience At Michigan: "Last year was super hard for me. Adjusting to a new program, adjusting to the Power Four level and style and pace of play is super difficult. But now that I'm going into my second year, I appreciate it so much more, because I know that I pushed myself and got out of my comfort zone, where I could've just stayed somewhere I was already comfortable. It was super rewarding that I was able to accomplish that much." — Clayton Sayfie ❱ Getting To Know Women's Basketball Senior Ashley Sofilkanich Sofilkanich scored in double figures in 10 of 35 games during the 2025-26 season. COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY