West Liberty, W.Va. — The future of Hilltopper women's basketball looks both bright and bold, as Head Coach Kyle Cooper and his staff have unveiled a versatile and high-potential 2025-26 recruiting class that includes seven newcomers ready to make their mark on the Mountain East Conference.
With half the roster made up of fresh faces this season, the Hilltoppers enter the season with a clear and confident vision.
"We're really excited about this recruiting class as our staff enters a little bit of uncharted territory with half our team being newcomers," Cooper said. "There's no doubt that we were very intentional with how we constructed this roster. We believe it has the makings of a team built to compete for championships on the court and win the scoreboard of life off it through who they are as people and a basketball family."
Meet the New Hilltoppers
Abbie Davidson
A transfer from Youngstown State, Abbie Davidson brings immediate experience and energy to the West Liberty backcourt. The Salem, Ohio native appeared in 16 games as a freshman in the Horizon League and starred in high school at Salem High, where she earned Columbiana County Player of the Year and Your Sports Network Offensive Player of the Year honors. Her resume also includes MVP awards in three prestigious all-star games.
"Abbie brings talent, versatility, and experience to our roster that will have an immediate impact on our program," Cooper said. "She has the quickness and explosiveness of the premier combo guards of the MEC, can score at all three levels, and uses her motor on both sides of the basketball."
Ana-Isabel Andersson Rodriguez
Hailing from London by way of Western Wyoming Community College, Ana-Isabel is a cerebral, pass-first point guard who helped lead WWCC to a 25-8 record and its first-ever regional final appearance. Prior to college, she starred at the City of London Academy, winning multiple national titles and earning Weabl First Team honors in 2023.
"Ana-Isabel is a high-IQ point guard who impacts the game beyond scoring," Cooper said. "She's an elite on-ball defender and understands execution at a high level."
Kaleigh Norris
A 6'0" wing from Tuscarawas Valley High School in Ohio, Norris adds length, athleticism, and toughness. A three-time First Team selection in both the East District and District 5, she was also a three-time All-Ohio Special Mention pick. Kaleigh helped lead her team to a district championship as a senior and has a skillset tailor-made for West Liberty's motion-based offense.
"Kaleigh is a long, athletic, blue-collar wing who shoots the three and finishes at the rim," Cooper said. "She plays with an edge and understands how to move without the ball—perfect for how we play."
Dria Parker
Parker brings championship experience and elite shooting to the Hill. A product of Spring Valley High School in Huntington, W.Va., she helped guide her team to the 2025 WV AAAA state title and earned all-state recognition all four years. She was also named to the state all-tournament team in her final season.
"Dria is an elite shooter with unlimited range and a quiet confidence that will carry into our style of play," Cooper said. "She has great size for a wing, can defend multiple positions, and has the ultimate green light."
Ella Giles
Another standout from Spring Valley, Ella Giles joins her high school teammate Dria in heading to the Hilltop. Giles is a versatile, athletic wing who helped her team win two state titles during her prep career. As a junior and senior captain, she averaged 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Her athletic pedigree runs deep—her father, Reggie, is a Marshall University Hall of Famer in football, basketball, and track.
"Ella is long, athletic, and has a really high ceiling," Cooper said. "She's a crafty finisher, can stretch the floor, and shows the makings of a high-level defender and rebounder in our league."
Jillian Huffman
A familiar face returns to the Black and Gold as Wheeling Park's Jillian Huffman re-joins the program after a brief absence. Huffman helped lead her high school team to the 2024 WVSSAC AAAA state championship and was a state runner-up in 2023. The daughter of two West Liberty professors, including assistant men's basketball coach Dr. Aaron Huffman, she's no stranger to Hilltopper pride.
"Jillian is a long, high-level athlete who knows how to thrive in a system like ours," said Cooper. "She creates advantages offensively and can defend and rebound at a high level."
Jameka Brungard
One of the most decorated high school players in the class, Jameka Brungard led Springfield Local to an Ohio State Final Four appearance and racked up multiple MVAC Player of the Year and All-State honors during her four-year varsity career. She brings a physical inside presence and versatile scoring ability to the Hilltoppers' frontcourt.
"Jameka is a long, athletic tweener who can finish around the rim and stretch the defense," Cooper said. "She's just scratching the surface of her potential and has a really bright future."
A Balanced Blend of Old and New
The seven-member incoming class joins a returning core of seven veterans, creating a roster built for depth, versatility, and competitive edge.
"When you look at the collective group, there's no doubt it has versatility that can impact the game in a variety of ways," said Cooper. "Our newcomers complement our returners in a major way to create balance, depth, and, ultimately, an opportunity for our program to be worthy of winning. We cannot wait to get this season underway and start winning relationships and possessions in everything we do."
With a mix of championship resumes, collegiate experience, and high-upside athleticism, the Hilltoppers' 2025-26 class lays the foundation for a promising year of West Liberty women's basketball.
