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11/12/2026 9:16:00 AM | Women's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City women's basketball head coach Candi Whitaker announced the signing of three student-athletes to the Roos' 2027 recruiting class, welcoming point guards Jaylen Cauthron, Sofia Acuña, and Laila Boylan to Kansas City.
The three-member class features a trio of guards with experience at the high school and club levels. The group includes an Oklahoma standout, an international prospect from Monterrey, Mexico, and a local product from Kansas City, Kansas.
Jaylen Cauthron | 5-7 | Guard | Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Cauthron joins the Roos from Broken Bow High School in Oklahoma, where she established herself as one of the state's top players. The 5-foot-7 point guard averaged 21.1 points per game as a freshman, 18.9 as a sophomore, and 20.2 points and 8.4 rebounds as a junior.
Cauthron surpassed 1,000 career points during her sophomore season before reaching the 1,500-point and 500-rebound milestones as a junior. She also earned the Prep Nation Ball Hawk Award and was ranked No. 4 by Prep Girls Hoops.
As a freshman, Cauthron helped lead Broken Bow to a state championship and earned state tournament MVP honors. A multi-sport standout, she is a four-time Class 4A state champion in the 4x400-meter relay and earned All-State recognition in track. She also earned All-Defensive Player of the Year honors in softball as a sophomore and All-State recognition as a senior.
Cauthron holds Broken Bow school records in the high jump (5-foot-4), 4x400-meter relay, and 4x100-meter relay. On the club circuit, she competed with Team Griffin, Tre Young and Drive Nation, winning a 15U national championship on the adidas circuit.
Academically, Cauthron is a member of the National Honor Society and plans to major in finance.
"I chose Kansas City mainly because of the coaches. They look and feel like a real family, so coming from a big family, that's what I looked for most," Cauthron said.
Head Coach Candi Whitaker quote: "Jaylen Cauthron is an exciting addition to our program and a great fit for the culture we are building at UMKC. One of the top guards in Oklahoma, Jaylen brings an explosive style of play that immediately stands out. Her speed and athleticism allow her to attack defenses, create her own shot, knock down perimeter jumpers, and finish strong around the basket. She also has the ability to disrupt opponents defensively and turn her energy into winning plays. Jaylen's competitive grit, toughness, and relentless work ethic are qualities that will serve her well at the next level. Her success in basketball, softball, and track speaks to the exceptional athleticism and determination she brings to everything she does. We are excited to welcome Jaylen to Kansas City and look forward to watching her continue to grow and develop as a Roo!"
Sofia Acuña | 5-9 | Guard | Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Acuña joins Kansas City from Central Pointe after an accomplished high school career and international basketball experience. The 5-foot-9 point guard averaged 15 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds per game while earning SIAA Player of the Year and NISAA Finals MVP honors.
A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Acuña has competed with WT Elite AAU and the Mexican National Team. She also earned Honor Roll recognition in 2025 and is ranked No. 2 among point guards in Florida by Prep Girls Hoops.
Acuña plans to major in psychology at Kansas City.
"I chose to play at Kansas City because I think I'm a great fit for the team. I know I can make the team better. They are great girls on and off the court. Also, the coaching staff convinced me because they show they really care for their players and are very involved with them. With all that together, it's the best decision for me," Acuña said.
Head Coach Candi Whitaker quote: "Sofia Acuna is a special talent who brings an exceptional understanding of the game to our 2027 recruiting class. Her basketball IQ allows her to read defenses, make sound decisions, and find ways to impact winning beyond scoring. Offensively, Sofia is a dynamic three-level scorer with the ability to create opportunities for herself while also setting up her teammates. On the defensive end, she uses her length, instincts, and anticipation to make life difficult for opposing players. Her ability to influence the game on both ends of the floor is what makes her such a valuable addition to our program. As another exciting international addition to UMKC, Sofia brings a unique skill set and a competitive mindset that we believe will translate well to the college game. We are thrilled to welcome her to Kansas City and look forward to seeing all she accomplishes in a Roo jersey!"
Laila Boylan | 5-9 | Guard | Kansas City, Kansas
Boylan stays close to home after signing with Kansas City, joining the Roos from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, Kansas. The 5-foot-9 point guard has competed with Colorado Lockdown and Mokan Elite on the club circuit.
Boylan comes from a basketball family, with both parents having collegiate basketball experience. Her father, Nate, played at Oklahoma Baptist University, while her mother, Rachel, competed at Oklahoma Baptist and Lipscomb. Her siblings have also continued the family tradition, with Skyler playing at William Jewell College and Kellan having competed at the Air Force Academy and Lipscomb University. She is ranked as the No. 61 nationally ranked recruit in the class of 2027.
Boylan plans to major in sports management at Kansas City.
"I chose UMKC because it felt like the perfect fit for me both on and off the court. I love the coaching staff, the team culture, and the opportunity to stay close to home while competing at the Division I level. I knew UMKC was somewhere I could continue to grow as a player and person while being part of something special," Boylan said.
Head Coach Candi Whitaker quote: "We are extremely excited to welcome Laila Boylan to the Roo family. Laila is one of the top guards in Kansas and a nationally ranked player in the 2027 class who brings an impressive blend of size, skill, basketball IQ, and competitiveness. Her ability to score at all three levels makes her a versatile offensive threat, but what truly separates her is her feel for the game and her unselfish approach. Laila has a natural ability to elevate those around her and consistently make the right play. Her decision to stay close to home and represent Kansas City and UMKC speaks volumes about her belief in our program and the direction we are headed. We are confident that Laila has a bright future ahead of her and the ability to contribute right away. We can't wait to see her take the floor in a Roo jersey!"
The three-member class features a trio of guards with experience at the high school and club levels. The group includes an Oklahoma standout, an international prospect from Monterrey, Mexico, and a local product from Kansas City, Kansas.
Jaylen Cauthron | 5-7 | Guard | Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Cauthron joins the Roos from Broken Bow High School in Oklahoma, where she established herself as one of the state's top players. The 5-foot-7 point guard averaged 21.1 points per game as a freshman, 18.9 as a sophomore, and 20.2 points and 8.4 rebounds as a junior.
Cauthron surpassed 1,000 career points during her sophomore season before reaching the 1,500-point and 500-rebound milestones as a junior. She also earned the Prep Nation Ball Hawk Award and was ranked No. 4 by Prep Girls Hoops.
As a freshman, Cauthron helped lead Broken Bow to a state championship and earned state tournament MVP honors. A multi-sport standout, she is a four-time Class 4A state champion in the 4x400-meter relay and earned All-State recognition in track. She also earned All-Defensive Player of the Year honors in softball as a sophomore and All-State recognition as a senior.
Cauthron holds Broken Bow school records in the high jump (5-foot-4), 4x400-meter relay, and 4x100-meter relay. On the club circuit, she competed with Team Griffin, Tre Young and Drive Nation, winning a 15U national championship on the adidas circuit.
Academically, Cauthron is a member of the National Honor Society and plans to major in finance.
"I chose Kansas City mainly because of the coaches. They look and feel like a real family, so coming from a big family, that's what I looked for most," Cauthron said.
Head Coach Candi Whitaker quote: "Jaylen Cauthron is an exciting addition to our program and a great fit for the culture we are building at UMKC. One of the top guards in Oklahoma, Jaylen brings an explosive style of play that immediately stands out. Her speed and athleticism allow her to attack defenses, create her own shot, knock down perimeter jumpers, and finish strong around the basket. She also has the ability to disrupt opponents defensively and turn her energy into winning plays. Jaylen's competitive grit, toughness, and relentless work ethic are qualities that will serve her well at the next level. Her success in basketball, softball, and track speaks to the exceptional athleticism and determination she brings to everything she does. We are excited to welcome Jaylen to Kansas City and look forward to watching her continue to grow and develop as a Roo!"
Sofia Acuña | 5-9 | Guard | Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Acuña joins Kansas City from Central Pointe after an accomplished high school career and international basketball experience. The 5-foot-9 point guard averaged 15 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds per game while earning SIAA Player of the Year and NISAA Finals MVP honors.
A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Acuña has competed with WT Elite AAU and the Mexican National Team. She also earned Honor Roll recognition in 2025 and is ranked No. 2 among point guards in Florida by Prep Girls Hoops.
Acuña plans to major in psychology at Kansas City.
"I chose to play at Kansas City because I think I'm a great fit for the team. I know I can make the team better. They are great girls on and off the court. Also, the coaching staff convinced me because they show they really care for their players and are very involved with them. With all that together, it's the best decision for me," Acuña said.
Head Coach Candi Whitaker quote: "Sofia Acuna is a special talent who brings an exceptional understanding of the game to our 2027 recruiting class. Her basketball IQ allows her to read defenses, make sound decisions, and find ways to impact winning beyond scoring. Offensively, Sofia is a dynamic three-level scorer with the ability to create opportunities for herself while also setting up her teammates. On the defensive end, she uses her length, instincts, and anticipation to make life difficult for opposing players. Her ability to influence the game on both ends of the floor is what makes her such a valuable addition to our program. As another exciting international addition to UMKC, Sofia brings a unique skill set and a competitive mindset that we believe will translate well to the college game. We are thrilled to welcome her to Kansas City and look forward to seeing all she accomplishes in a Roo jersey!"
Laila Boylan | 5-9 | Guard | Kansas City, Kansas
Boylan stays close to home after signing with Kansas City, joining the Roos from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, Kansas. The 5-foot-9 point guard has competed with Colorado Lockdown and Mokan Elite on the club circuit.
Boylan comes from a basketball family, with both parents having collegiate basketball experience. Her father, Nate, played at Oklahoma Baptist University, while her mother, Rachel, competed at Oklahoma Baptist and Lipscomb. Her siblings have also continued the family tradition, with Skyler playing at William Jewell College and Kellan having competed at the Air Force Academy and Lipscomb University. She is ranked as the No. 61 nationally ranked recruit in the class of 2027.
Boylan plans to major in sports management at Kansas City.
"I chose UMKC because it felt like the perfect fit for me both on and off the court. I love the coaching staff, the team culture, and the opportunity to stay close to home while competing at the Division I level. I knew UMKC was somewhere I could continue to grow as a player and person while being part of something special," Boylan said.
Head Coach Candi Whitaker quote: "We are extremely excited to welcome Laila Boylan to the Roo family. Laila is one of the top guards in Kansas and a nationally ranked player in the 2027 class who brings an impressive blend of size, skill, basketball IQ, and competitiveness. Her ability to score at all three levels makes her a versatile offensive threat, but what truly separates her is her feel for the game and her unselfish approach. Laila has a natural ability to elevate those around her and consistently make the right play. Her decision to stay close to home and represent Kansas City and UMKC speaks volumes about her belief in our program and the direction we are headed. We are confident that Laila has a bright future ahead of her and the ability to contribute right away. We can't wait to see her take the floor in a Roo jersey!"
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