About everyone on Milwaukee’s roster had a mixed bag for the 2025-26 season. The Panthers had another rough year, finishing 8-24 (4-16 HL).
Despite the poor record, there were flashes of talent up and down the roster, but they mostly remained just that.
Starting Lineup – The favored starting lineup for most of the season featured: Madison Fitzgibbon, Grace Lomen, Payton Rechlicz, Jada Williams and Jorey Buwalda.
Player grades are based on preseason expectations and overall performances throughout the season.
Jorey Buwalda: B
28.2 MPG: 12.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.6 apg
Jorey Buwalda came into the season as the focal point for everything Milwaukee was going to do on offense, which came with a lot of pressure.
The leading scorer from the 2024-25 season did well for much of the year, considering the dependence on her.
Buwalda led the team in scoring, rebounding and free-throw attempts, putting the most strain on opposing defenses of any Panther.
The one thing keeping her grade at a B is that her percentages from the field and from three weren’t as good as you would like for your first option (Just under 40% FG and 25% 3-PT FG).
On defense, Buwalda was a steady presence in the post, taking on the toughest frontcourt assignment every night.
She was also the only Panther to receive an all-league honor.
Grace Lomen: B-
21.8 MPG: 10.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg
The lone senior on the roster had to step up after a limited role last season. Along with becoming a leader, Lomen had to become a scorer. She had a hot-and-cold year with some efficient nights and others where there was a lid on the rim.
She scored over 20 points five times. Her 30-point career best outburst came in a loss at Robert Morris in February.
Lomen shot around 38 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep. If she weren’t relied upon so heavily, it’s safe to assume those percentages could’ve been higher.
Jada Williams: C-
22.2 MPG: 3.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.4 apg
The saving grace for Jada Williams is her defensive prowess. When the Panthers went into a zone, she took on the toughest assignment at the top of the key, usually guarding the most dynamic opposing player.
Williams didn’t take the offensive jump needed for Milwaukee to be as effective as they would’ve liked. Her play would benefit greatly if the Panthers had more offense around her, but in a team where there are limited options, her weaknesses on offense were more apparent.
Payton Rechlicz: C
28.3 MPG: 5.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.3 apg –
Payton Rechlicz was also looking to take a leap on offense this season, which didn’t materialize in the way most hoped.
She showed flashes of being the scorer Milwaukee needed, mostly in games where Buwalda and Lomen were off their game, but didn’t have a full body of work that was sufficient.
Rechlicz did pride herself on the defensive end, which was her main contribution night in and night out.
Still, the daughter of head coach Kyle Rechlicz can definitely improve going into her final two years of college basketball.
Madison Fitzgibbon: C+
22.0 MPG: 4.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.9 apg
Being thrust as the opening day starting point guard is no easy feat for any freshman. Fitzgibbon found that out after a one-point, one assist and six turnover performance in her first collegiate game.
She found her way back into the starting lineup as the season went on, making 22 starts in her 32 appearances.
Fitzgibbon’s most apparent attribute is her ability to make threes, as 42 of her 48 field goals on the year came from deep. She shot over 40 percent on three-pointers.
A common theme among coach Kyle Rechlicz throughout the year was hoping Fitzgibbon shot more. Her timidness to let it fly was understandable as a freshman, but her efficient clip from deep would’ve justified more than 3.25 looks from behind the arc per game.
Fitzgibbon can improve her ability inside the three-point line, whether it be scoring or playmaking.
She is not the most imposing presence defensively, either, so a lot will ride on her improvement inside the arc next season.
Tierney Madigan: B
13.1 MPG: 4.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.9 apg
On her day, Tierney Madigan was instant offense. Madigan’s breakout game came in a home loss against Youngstown State, where she scored 17 points in 24 minutes.
She didn’t follow that performance up with anything close until elimination was on the line in Milwaukee’s play-in game against Detroit Mercy.
In the win-or-go-home game, Madigan led all scorers with 22, taking over the game in the third quarter before the Panthers squandered the contest in the final frame.
In total, Madigan stepped in as a freshman and made a tangible impact as a scoring threat, especially off the dribble, which was something few players on the Panthers were capable of.
Kendall Barnes: B+
13.0 MPG: 4.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg
Kendall Barnes is another player who showed the ability to attack off the dribble. Despite not being an outside threat, Barnes’ skill at getting to the rim and finishing was seen throughout the year, contributing to her team-high 55% field goal percentage.
Barnes was also one of the best perimeter defenders on the team, with arguably the quickest lateral movement of anyone on the team. Barnes also excelled for her size and position as a rebounder.
2025-26 saw her first collegiate action after redshirting last year, which came along with some freshman mistakes and lapses on occasion.
She added an edge that few Panthers brought and made a real impact off the bench in her first season seeing game time, coming in limited minutes for most of the season.
Cece McNair: C
8.2 MPG: 2.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg
It took most of the year for Cece McNair to get acclimated to the college game, but when she finally did, the 6-foot-2 inch center filled in some much-needed minutes at the frontcourt position for the Panthers.
McNair’s game is still extremely raw, most notably at the free-throw line, but her physical profile gives her upside going forward.
Sophia Rampulla: C+
13.3 MPG: 3.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg
Sophia Rampulla was also expected to take a solid jump this year, especially offensively. It took until the last few games of the season before she found her groove as a scoring threat, even being inserted into the starting lineup for Milwaukee’s play-in game vs. Detroit Mercy.
Rampulla is a capable shooter and willing defender. At the end of the year, she was used as a point-forward occasionally, which had mixed results.
She didn’t fare the greatest against physicality in 2025-26, but her step forward to being a real contributor could come next season if she can invite more contact offensively and defensively.
Izzy Pugh: C-
9.2 MPG: 3.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg
A season ago, Izzy Pugh averaged 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. This year seemed like it would be a step forward with more playing time, but that didn’t materialize.
Injury kept Pugh out for a stretch in the middle of the season, which saw Cece McNair have to step up in her absence.
Pugh never had a breakout game to solidify her place in the rotation for the Panthers in 2025-26. Pugh’s mobility at her size and continued health should see her Junior year be where she really takes a leap.
Rita Gomes: C-
8.2 MPG: 3.3 ppg, 0.9 rpg
Rita Gomes came to Milwaukee as a three-point specialist. She ended up making the fourth most threes on the season (29), shooting at a 35 percent clip from behind the arc after overcoming a slump early in the year.
Gomes was a capable scoring threat from all three levels, looking more comfortable than most Panthers scoring inside.
Gomes struggled with the speed and physicality of the Horizon League at times, leading to turnovers and other shaky moments.
After a year adjusting to the level after transferring from the JUCO ranks, Gomes could be a good source of production off the bench going forward.
Micayla Silas: C+
11.1 MPG: 3.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg
Micayla Silas was arguably the most athletic player on the roster and was especially a nuisance for opponents on defense. Silas was on par with Williams and Barnes when it comes to perimeter defense on-ball.
Silas was a bit shaky at times on offense, getting into bad spots with turnovers and tough shots. She did show flashes of offensive production, with a few flashy assists and good-looking jumpers, along with a tendency to draw fouls.
However, her full body of work remained very inconsistent, shooting 32 percent from the field and 21 percent from three.
Her unique athletic profile was an energy boost that could instantly be felt anytime she checked into the game. If Silas can slow things down at times and refine her skills, she can be an explosive player at-times for Milwaukee.
Valerie Cassidy-De Falco: D+
12.6 MPG: 2.1 ppg, 1.3 rpg
Valerie Cassidy-De Falco’s effort or heart is the last thing someone could criticize about her 2025-26 season. Outside of that, she didn’t bring a whole lot else to the table on the court.
The point guard transfer from Eastern Washington lacked a dynamic aspect to her game. She didn’t find a clear niche with the team, whether it be scoring, playmaking or defending.
If she could add a go-to move to get a bucket or drastically improve her assist-to-turnover ratio, she could find a role on offense moving forward.