Women's Basketball Announces 2026-27 Newcomers
7/10/2026 11:15:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston women's basketball head coach Amanda Butler announced her squad's newcomers for the 2026-27 campaign.
The incoming class includes transfers Mia James, Abby Jegede and Isla Juffermans, as well as freshmen Dakara Merthie, Chanel Ndi, Maggie Spell and Janna Vogelaar.
Mia James | Sophomore Guard | Dacula, Ga.
James joins the Cougars after her freshman season at George Washington where she made 22 starts and played in a program record 36 contests. She averaged 4.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, while shooting 83.3% from the charity stripe. James posted 12 points and dished out a team-high eight assists in her collegiate debut. Additionally, she tallied four double-digit scoring performances in her debut season.
Butler on James: Mia brings experience and winning all the way back from her high school days. She's a great addition at a critical spot on the floor. She can lead with the ball in her hands and make plays off the ball as a shooter. MJ competes with a chip on her shoulder, and that spirit will serve our group well.
JAMES' FULL BIO
Abby Jegede | Redshirt Senior Guard | Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Jegede joins the Cougars after a successful redshirt junior campaign at Tulsa. She started in 25 games for the Golden Hurricane, and had five double-digit scoring performances, including a career-high 29 points against Prairie View. Prior to Tulsa, Jegede started in 24 of her 25 games played during her redshirt sophomore season at Northeastern and played in 29 games during her redshirt freshman year at Villanova.
Butler on Jegede: Abby is the consummate veteran. She is a proven scorer in the CAA and very determined. She will provide size on the perimeter and is capable of guarding multiple positions. Abby came to the College to finish her career with a statement season. I expect big things from her.
JEGEDE'S FULL BIO
Isla Juffermans | Redshirt Sophomore Forward | Coffs Harbour, Australia
Juffermans will join the Cougars from Louisville where she played in 24 games during her freshman year in 2024-25. Before utilizing a redshirt year during the 2025-26 season, Juffermans averaged 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. She scored a career-high 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting with four rebounds against Morehead State. Prior to Louisville, Juffermans was named the MVP of the 2022 FIBA U18 Women's Asian Championship.
Butler on Juffermans: Isla has a strong combination of size, strength and skill. You can always find her in the gym. We have a couple years of history together already and I'm excited to continue to be a part of her journey. Isla will be an asset to our culture and our win column.
JUFFERMAN'S FULL BIO
Dakara Merthie | Freshman Guard | Deltona, Fla.
Merthie joins the Cougars after graduating from Ocoee High School. Merthie scored over 1,000 points during her high school career and helped her team win the district and regional championships in 2025. She holds six records at Ocoee High School: most points in a single season (694), most points in a single game (44), most field goals made in a season (234), highest points per game average in a season (24), most threes in a game (9) and most threes in a season (82). Merthie was also the Orlando Sentinel All-Area Player of the Year in 2025.
Butler on Merthie: Dakara has a strong sense of herself and is rooted in her values, and I love that for our culture and what she offers as a teammate. She brings scoring and playmaking ability as well. Each week she discovers something new about her game and how she can help us win. I'm excited to see Dakara's game elevate this season.
MERTHIE'S FULL BIO
Chanel Ndi | Freshman Forward | Würzburg, Germany
Ndi joins the Cougars from Würzburg, Germany. In 2024, Ndi played in seven games in the FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket league. In 2022, Ndi competed in seven games, averaging 5.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists per contest in the FIBA U16 Women's European Championship.
Butler on Ndi: Chanel has amassed a tremendous amount of valuable international experience in a short amount of time. I'm excited for her dynamic playmaking ability in the paint as well as her impact on her teammates. She has a pro frame and a high basketball IQ which will make her hard to guard.
NDI'S FULL BIO
Maggie Spell | Freshman Guard | Pittsburgh, Pa.
Spell joins the Cougars after graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School. While in high school, Spell scored over 2,000 career points and made over 200 triples. She led the Jaguars to a WPIAL Championship in 2024 and was named the MVP of the tournament. Spell also led her team to Sectional Championships in 2026, 2024 and 2023. She posted a career-high 37 points during her junior season, and over the course of her career has been named the Big 56 Section Player of the Year and earned All-State honors.
Butler on Spell: Maggie is a worker and takes her game very seriously. She's a competitor and a gym rat which is a big reason we wanted her at Charleston. She has high expectations for herself and is eager to learn. Maggie fits our culture perfectly and will be an elite threat at the three point line.
SPELL'S FULL BIO
Janna Vogelaar | Freshman Guard | Bronckhorst, Netherlands
Vogelaar joins the Cougars from Bronckhorst, Netherlands. In 2025, Vogelaar played in seven games, while averaging 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in the FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket league. The year prior, she played in seven games, and averaged 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket Division B. In 2022, Vogelaar played in five games, posting 8.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket Championship Division B.
Butler on Vogelaar: Janna will offer immediate impact in a variety of ways. She has a dynamic combination of size, playmaking ability and point guard skills. She is also an outstanding person and I love her curiosity and ambition. I can't wait for Cougar fans to experience Janna's game.
VOGELAAR'S FULL BIO
The full CofC women's basketball 2026-27 roster can be found on the Charleston women's basketball roster page on cofcsports.com.
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