By Dean Koutouratsas (@therealestdk777)
St. John’s women’s basketball begins its 2026-27 campaign against Lafayette on November 2, when it will debut a new-look roster that features five returning players from last year’s squad and seven newcomers. The group of recruits are made up of four transfer portal acquisitions, providing senior guard Brooke Moore and junior forward Sa’Mya Wyatt with a supporting cast of talent.
Former Texas A&M and Sacred Heart guard Ny’Ceara Pryor was the most notable addition, given her experience performing at a high level. While she is expected to take up an important role for the Johnnies, there is more than enough room for any of the other new members to have a breakout first season:
Asia Donald (Guard, Junior)
At the start of June, Joe Tartamella landed a key commitment from junior guard Asia Donald to bolster his guard room. She brings a combination of strength and size as a proven scorer, who posted 14.8 points per game on 44 percent shooting at West Georgia in her sophomore year. Additionally, she reached double figures in 26 out of her 31 appearances with five 20-point performances, ranking third in scoring in the ASUN.
Donald’s presence also provides the Red Storm with another lengthy defender who averaged 5.0 rebounds per game and snagged more than five boards in 18 of her 31 appearances at 5-foot-9. This can benefit the Johnnies when they face deeper rosters such as UConn and Villanova, who the coaches’ poll predicted to finish in first and second place, respectively.
“Asia is a proven scorer who plays with toughness and confidence every time she steps on the floor,” Tartamella said on June 3. “She can score at all three levels and brings tenacity at the defensive end of the floor.”
Sanaa Tripp (Guard, Junior)
The junior guard, who last played at Belmont University, was another one of Tartamella’s key additions from the spring. A proven scorer and rebounder, Sanaa Tripp tallied 7.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game to receive the Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Player of the Year Award. Additionally, she scored a career-best 25 points against Northern Iowa.
Tripp is also a proven defender that forced three or more steals in five games and grabbed at least three rebounds in 15 contests. She also brings added postseason experience from helping Belmont reach the Women’s Basketball Invitational tournament championship as a freshman, in which she scored in double figures twice.
“Sanaa is the type of player who brings instant energy and impact every time she steps on the floor,” Tartamella said on April 23. “Her ability to score, defend and make plays on both sides of the floor at a high level fits the identity of our team.”
Olivia Tucker (Guard, Junior)
Tartamella brought in another versatile scorer and three-point shooter when he recruited Olivia Tucker. The junior guard displayed both of those qualities in her first two seasons at Campbell, where she posted 9.1 points and made 1.8 three pointers per game in her sophomore campaign. Her three-point shooting made a significant difference, helping her reach double figures in five of her last six outings with a career-high of 23 points. The added scoring can help St. John’s improve upon their previous totals, including shooting 44.2 percent from the field and 30 percent from long range in 2025-26.
“We were really impressed with Olivia’s ability to shoot the three and her overall demeanor as a player,” Tartamella said on June 9. “She made 59 3-pointers this season and her game will allow us to stretch the floor. Additionally, her positive attitude and competitive mindset will fit right in with our culture.”
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