Season Preview: Kansas City Women's Basketball

THE ROO REPORT

Kansas City Women's Basketball enters the 2025-26 season with a healthy mix of steady returning pieces and an influx of talented newcomers. Headlining KC's returning talent is the dynamic twin duo of Emani and Elauni Bennett, both returning starters from a season ago.
Emani Bennett heads into her junior season as a member of the Preseason All-Summit League First Team, the Roos' first since 2021. Bennett is the only returning player in the conference to have averaged over 30 minutes per game and 15 points per game last year. As a sophomore, Bennett was second on the team in scoring at 15.1 PPG and third in rebounding at 4.5 RPG.
The 2024-25 Summit League's top offensive rebounder Elauni Bennett is back for the Roos. Bennett led the team and conference averaging 3.4 offensive boards per contest. She was also seventh in the Summit in total rebounding, averaging 6.8 rebounds a night.
Kansas City also returns key upperclassmen rotational pieces Kelby Bannerman and Zaire Harrell. In her senior season, Bannerman averaged 6.2 PPG (5th on team), 4.2 RPG (4th on team) and led the squad with 25 blocked shots. Harrell averaged 3.9 PPG (6th on team) and 4.0 RPG (5th on team) as a junior.
The Roos bring in a staunch batch of veteran players from the transfer portal. Included in that mix is Tierra Trotter (Gr.), Jumoke Adaramoye (Gr.), Jamyah Winter (Gr.), Hallie Majoros (Gr.) and Carleigh Andrews (Sr.).
All told, Kansas City comes into this season as one of the most experienced teams in college basketball. The Roos have five graduate students, tied for the second most in Division women's college hoops. Additionally, KC is also tied for the second most upperclassmen players with 12, making up 75% of the roster.
Last year, Kansas City was top two in the Summit in offensive rebounding, steals and forced turnovers per game.
Kansas City begins the 2025-26 campaign on the road against Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5. The Jayhawks are among several teams in the receiving votes category from the Preseason AP Poll Top 25 ranking.
The Roos dispatched Missouri Baptist 78-39 in their lone exhibition game on Halloween night. Emani Bennett posted 25 points, four rebounds and four steals on 11-26 shooting from the field. Elauni Bennett scored 14 points and hauled in eight rebounds. Zaire Harrell nabbed a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Kansas City's 2025-26 schedule is filled with plenty of electric matchups, including a headline bout against HC Jackson-Durrett's alma mater, No. 6 Oklahoma on November 12 in Norman. The Roos host 15 games at the Swinney Center this season, seven out-of-conference and eight in the Summit slate.
Kansas City slots in sixth place in the 2025-25 Summit League Preseason Poll, as voted on by the head coaches and distinct media members. The Roos garnered 291 points to finish right below St. Thomas and ahead of North Dakota, Omaha and Denver.
The Roos boast three players from the international hoops scene including senior forward Funmi Amode from the U.K., freshman forward Claudia Frances from Spain and Jumoke Adaramoye from Nigeria.

COACH'S CORNER

Dionnah Jackson-Durrett Coaching File

Experience: 2025-26 is her 16th year (4th as a Head Coach)
Kansas City Record: 33-65 (4th year)
Career Record: 33-65 (4th year)

COACHING HISTORY

2022-present: Head Coach, KC
2020-22: Assoc. Head Coach, Texas
2019-20: Assoc. Head Coach, Miss. St.
2015-19: Assistant Coach, Miss. St.
2013-15: Assist. Coach, George Mason
2010-13: Assistant Coach, SEMO

PLAYING HISTORY

2007: Chicago Sky (WNBA)
2007-10: Israeli Premier League
2006-07: Ligue Nationale de Basket A (Switzerland)
2006: San Jose Spiders (NWBL)
2001-05: University of Oklahoma
Honors - Big 12 Tournament MVP (2004), All-Big 12 Second Team (2003, 2004), All-Big 12 First Team (2005), Wade & Naismith National POY Finalist (2005), First-Round WNBA Draft Pick (Detroit Shock, 2005), Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention (2005).

Season Preview: Kansas City Women's Basketball

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jumoke Adaramoye

Funmi Amode

Carleigh Andrews

Kelby Bannerman

Elauni Bennett

Emani Bennett

Claudia Frances

Zaire Harrell

Hallie Majoros

Tierra Trotter

Jamyah Winter

Season Preview: Kansas City Women's Basketball

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jumoke Adaramoye

Funmi Amode

Carleigh Andrews

Kelby Bannerman

Elauni Bennett

Emani Bennett

Claudia Frances

Zaire Harrell

Hallie Majoros

Tierra Trotter

Jamyah Winter

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