The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women’s Basketball signs Laila Phelia
04.22.2024 | Women's Basketball
Phelia was a First Team All-Big Ten honoree in the 2023-24 season for Michigan.
AUSTIN, Texas — Laila Phelia (pronounced LAY-luh FEEL-ya) has signed an Athletic Scholarship Agreement (ASA) to play basketball next season at The University of Texas, head coach Vic Schaefer announced on Monday. Phelia, who spent the last three seasons at Michigan will join the Longhorns for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
Phelia (6-0) a guard from Cincinnati, Ohio has played in 88 career games (71 starts) and has tallied 1,243 points in her collegiate career.
"We are very excited to welcome Laila and her family to The 40 Acres," Texas head coach Vic Schaefer said. "She is an outstanding young lady who brings a veteran presence to our team. She is a proven scorer in The Big Ten and will add not only another offensive dimension to our team, but will bring toughness and a competitive spirit as well. She's a winner! She comes from an incredible family. Her mother and father are so supportive and I believe they to are very excited about this next chapter in Laila's life. Our fans will love watching Laila play and she will fit right in with our current team, their toughness and competitive spirit that we have all grown a custom to seeing and watching. Please join me in welcoming Laila Phelia to the Longhorn Women's Basketball program here at The University of Texas."
Phelia was named a WBCA Region Finalist this past season, after picking up All-Big Ten first-team honors. During her junior season, she averaged 16.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 35 minutes per game. Phelia started all 33 games she played in, racking up one 30-point game and 12 20-point games while scoring in double figures in all but four contests. She led Michigan to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament while earning all-tournament team honors and helped the Wolverines secure their sixth straight NCAA Tournament berth.
Phelia earned placement on the preseason All-Big Ten team, Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List, Wooden Award Watch List and Naismith Award Watch List.
Phelia and current Longhorn player Aaliyah Moore played together at the USA Basketball U16 trials in Colorado Springs. Phelia earned a silver medal with USA Basketball for the 2023 AmeriCup.
Phelia went to high school at Mount Notre Dame and won a pair of state titles in 2019 and 2021. She ended her high school career on a 72-game winning streak. As a senior she averaged 16.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game and was ranked No. 28 by ESPN and was a McDonald's All-America Game nominee.
Her father Greg played basketball at Northern Kentucky (1989-93) and ranks 17th in program history in scoring with 1,310 points.
