Michigan women's basketball leading scorer Phelia enters transfer portal

Michigan women’s basketball's leading scorer, Laila Phelia, has entered her name in the transfer portal.

Phelia, a first-team All-Big Ten selection who averaged 16.8 points last season, could still return to Michigan for her final year of eligibility. The news was first reported by thenexthoops.com on Tuesday and confirmed by The Detroit News.

She made 33 starts and was second on the team in steals (41), third in assists (66) and shot 80% from the free-throw line (129-of-161). Phelia was voted to the Big Ten All-Tournament team, along with Iowa star Caitlin Clark, despite Michigan not playing in the title game. Against Indiana in a quarterfinal game, Michigan trailed by 17 but Phelia scored 20 in the second half to help lead the Wolverines to the upset.

Under coach Kim Barnes Arico, who just completed her 12th season at Michigan, the Wolverines have made six straight NCAA Tournament appearances. They lost in the first round to Kansas last month to finish 20-14.  Michigan has two Sweet 16 appearances in school history (2021, 2022) and an Elite Eight appearance in 2022. Barnes Arico has led Michigan to seven NCAA Tournament appearances — the program has been to 12 overall.

The incoming freshman class includes two five-star recruits, guards Syla Swords and Olivia Olson, Michigan’s first five-star duo to commit in the same class. Four-star guard Mila Holloway, forward Aiyanna Dunbar and three-star forward Te’Yala Delfosse will also be freshmen this fall.

angelique.chengelis@detroitnews.com

@chengelis