With a roster featuring seven newcomers, there will be plenty of new faces joining Alabama women’s basketball this upcoming season.
Four newcomers for the Crimson Tide will be freshmen.
Joy Egbuna, forward
The Arlington, Texas, native comes to Tuscaloosa after being ranked as the No. 85 recruit in the 2025 class by ESPNW.
Egbuna had an impressive junior season at Lake Ride High School, averaging 10.4 points and 13.6 rebounds per game and also breaking the school record for blocks in a season with 44. She earned Texas All-Region honors for her strong performance.
“Joy brings a high-energy, physical presence around the rim,” head coach Kristy Curry said. “She has all of the tools to be a great defender and impact rebounder in our league.”
She was also a USA Basketball Games participant in 2020-21 and played on the P24 Circuit 17U team. Egbuna chose the Crimson Tide over Colorado, North Carolina and Mississippi State.
Lourdes Da Silva Costa, forward
Originally from Sweden, Da Silva Costa is the highest-ranked recruit in the Crimson Tide’s recruiting class, coming in at No. 51.
Playing for her Sweden club team in 2022, she averaged 9.3 points and 11 rebounds per game in just 21 minutes of play. She was also on the U16 Nordic Championships All-Star Team and was named the MVP.
Da Silva Costa also won the 2024 Chipotle High School National Championship with her now-college teammate, sophomore Eris Lester. She was named the student athlete of the year at Montverde Academy in 2024 and chose Alabama over Miami, North Carolina and Florida State.
“I just really felt like the people there are just in the community,” Da Silva Costa told On3 about Alabama. “It’s just amazing, and they’re just really there to support you.”
Tianna Chambers, guard
Originally a high-level soccer prospect, the Colorado native ultimately turned her attention to basketball in a move that seemed to have paid off, as she was a four-star recruit and ranked a top-100 player in the class of 2025.
Chambers had a breakout junior season at Cherry Creek High School, averaging 16.0 points and two steals per game before tearing her ACL and ending her season prematurely. She is also a two-time “She Got Game” Classic MVP.
She picked up more accolades such as being named to the 2023 All-Centennial League and was put on lists such as the Blue Star 30 and the Wootten 150.
“Tianna is a versatile perimeter with size who can score in multiple ways and is a gifted defender,” Curry said. “She will have an immediate impact because she fits into our system on both ends of the floor.”
Ace Austin, guard
The Spring Garden, Alabama, native was ranked the No. 55 player in the 2025 class.
Austin had an accomplished prep career, as she was a four-time All-State first team and was named the Alabama Miss Basketball, given to the best women’s basketball player in the state, in 2024 and 2025. She also won the Gatorade, MaxPreps and AHSAA player of the year in both seasons.
She holds the Alabama high school girls basketball record in wins with 210. Austin won three straight AHSAA 1A state championships and averaged 20.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 3.6 steals per game.
“Being able to stay home and represent the state of Alabama means a lot,” Austin said of her college decision. “I just felt like it was family.”
With the Crimson Tide replacing big names such as Zaay Green, Aaliyah Nye and Sarah Ashlee Barker, look for the freshmen to potentially make a big impact this upcoming season.
