New Faces, New Firepower: NAU Women's Basketball Welcomes Impact Transfers for 2025-26 Season
Written By Rev. Justin C. Jackson
Stafford, TX - The reigning
USCAA National Champions, the
North American University Lady Stallions, are charging into the 2025-26 season with a fresh wave of talent that has Head Coach N. Davis Sr. grinning from ear to ear. Four transfers—each bringing a different weapon to the arsenal—are here to help the Stallions defend their crown with style, speed, and strength.
Savannah Velazquez – Point Guard | Transfer from Augusta College
The 5'2" floor general from Richmond, Texas, plays the game with a rare mix of quickness, vision, and grit. Newcomer of the Year and All-Academic honors at Hill College, plus a competitive stint at Augusta, prove she's no stranger to success.
A George Ranch High School alum, Velazquez was First Team All-District, Offensive Player of the Year, and an All-Region selection. She runs an offense like a conductor leading an orchestra—every cut, pass, and drive in rhythm. Coach Davis calls her "a stat-sheet stuffer who can take over a game when it matters most."
Lauren Vela – Forward | Transfer from St. Thomas University
Standing 6'0" and hailing from Houston, Vela adds size and toughness to the Stallions' frontcourt. Averaging 4.0 rebounds per game last year, she's the kind of physical post player who thrives in the trenches—boxing out, diving for loose balls, and making opponents think twice before attacking the paint.
Zekenya "Za'Kenya" Thompson – Guard | Transfer from Paris Junior College
If defense wins championships, Thompson is worth her weight in gold. Known for her relentless pressure, lightning-quick hands, and ability to hit a big three, she's a perfect fit for NAU's high-energy system. Her game plan is simple—disrupt, attack, repeat.
Layla Anderson – Guard | Transfer from St. Thomas University
A smooth-shooting guard with a textbook release, Anderson has built her reputation on knocking down big shots when it matters most. Whether it's a corner three, a pull-up jumper in transition, or stretching the floor to open up driving lanes, she's the kind of scorer defenses can't ignore. Pair her shooting touch with her high basketball IQ, and she becomes a weapon both as a scoring option and as a floor spacer who makes her teammates better. Shout out to The Whole Brookshire Royal Family.
From the Stables: Rev. Jackson Sits Down with Coach Davis
Rev. Jackson: Coach, last season ended with a national championship. What do these four new players bring to the defending champs?
Coach Davis:
"Savannah gives us a true quarterback on the floor—she can push the pace, control tempo, and get everyone involved. Zekenya brings defensive fire, the kind that changes momentum in seconds. Lauren is our enforcer inside; she's going to win us those dirty-possession battles. And Layla—she's the sniper. She spaces the floor and forces teams to pick their poison."
Rev. Jackson: How will they impact the team's style of play?
Coach Davis:
"They open up options. We can run smaller, faster lineups with Savannah and Zekenya flying around, or go big with Lauren anchoring the paint. Layla stretches defenses and makes every possession harder to guard. And beyond the X's and O's—they push our returning players in practice. It's iron sharpening iron. That's how you build a repeat champion."
Rev. Jackson: You've called them hungry. What does that mean for Stallions Nation?
Coach Davis:
"It means you're going to see effort every single possession. Diving for loose balls, crashing the boards, playing defense like the score's tied even if we're up twenty. These young women came here to compete, and our fans are going to love that."
With four fresh faces and a coach who knows how to blend talent into a winning formula, the 2025-26 Lady Stallions aren't just defending a title—they're evolving into an even more dangerous force.
Stallions Nation, mark your calendars. The Stable is about to get louder, the pace is about to get faster, and the Lady Stallions are ready to run it back.
