Women’s Basketball Signs Three to 2026 Class
November 13, 2025 | Women's Basketball
Cradle & Epps are ranked in the 2026 SportsCenter NEXT 100
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — University of Louisville women's basketball head coach Jeff Walz and his staff announced on Thursday the signing of three players to the 2026 recruiting class. Guard Ariyana "Peanut" Cradle, guard Myah Epps and forward Ayse Melek Demirer all signed their NLI to join the Cardinals for the 2026-27 season.
Ariyana "Peanut" Cradle
Guard | 5-10
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
High School: SPIRE Institute
Cradle is a 5-10 guard and a four-star prospect according to 247Sports.com. She ranks 42nd overall nationally, third-ranked combo guard nationally and the second-ranked player out of the state of Ohio. Cradle is also a four-star prospect according to ESPN.com and is currently ranked the 34th overall player on the SportsCenter NEXT 100.
Cradle took part in the Overtime Select league this summer, which highlights the top high school products in the country. She averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game and won the Overtime Select championship with her team, the All Knighters.
In her junior season with Westerville South, she averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 2.6 assists per game. She was 40.9% from the floor and was 35.5% from behind the arc. Playing club for Legends U, they won back-to-back 17U Power 24 titles. Cradle was named the 2025 Power 24 17U MVP and also earned 2025 Power 24 17U First Team honors.
"She is a dynamic point guard. She is someone we really targeted early in the recruiting process. Trying to make sure we found that point guard that we thought could be someone that can lead our team, play with some flair and bring a lot of excitement to our program. I truly believe she is the right person." – Jeff Walz
"She had a massive spring and summer of growth - going from combo guard to a true point guard who can run the show. From shooting consistency to decision making, to reading the floor and being an extension of the coach, Cradle stepped up in a major way. Defensively, she is confrontational with her willingness to pressure the ball and be physical in actions. She became a total package guard - well done!!" – Shane Laflin, ESPN Women Hoops
"Cradle is a 5'8 4-star guard out of Spire Institute in Ohio. Cradle is a highly skilled playmaker and shot maker with an aura about her that will captivate the Cardinal fandom. Cradle loves the big moments and big games and will be an immediate key piece for head coach Jeff Walz." – Jason Key, Premier Basketball Report
"Ariyana Cradle (5-6 PG/2 Westerville, OH/Spire Academy), a shifty, athletic combo that can score as a 1 on 1 creator. Dynamic off the dribble, Cradle finds space to operate, slices to the hoop and delivers in traffic. A 3-level scorer as well as a sneaky defender." – Dan Olson, The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
Myah Epps
Guard | 5-10
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
High School: Homestead
Epps is a 5-10 guard and a four-star prospect according to 247Sports.com. She ranks 49th overall nationally, fourth ranked combo guard nationally and is the second-ranked player out of the state of Indiana. Epps is also a four-star prospect according to ESPN.com and is currently ranked the 68th overall player on the SportsCenter NEXT 100.
This past summer, Epps was selected to play for the United States at the Adidas European Tournament that was hosted in Italy. The team was coached by current Los Angeles Sparks head coach Latricia Trammell and Epps was picked as a team captain.
After the 2024-25 season, Epps was named an Honorable Mention MaxPreps Junior All-America. She averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals on 42 percent shooting as the Spartans went 24-3 in her junior year and made it to the Class 4A regional championship game. Epps also earned MaxPreps All-America honors after her sophomore season as well.
"Myah Epps is a recruit we went after, really watched her play and was so impressed with how hard she plays and her ability to play both ends of the floor. She can cause havoc on defense, she is able to score the ball on the offensive end but what really stood out was her on the floor as a teammate. She is always encouraging her other teammates, trying to make sure they felt good, that they were positive and in a good place. That is one of the things that really stood out to me about Myah and I am excited to get her here and integrated into our program." – Jeff Walz
"Myah fits exactly what Jeff Walz is looking for in his guards. Speed, Toughness and Lateral Quickness. Gives Louisville a good guard for years to come!" – @BTNScouting
"Epps is a 5'10 4-star guard out of Homestead High School in Indiana. Extremely active on the defensive end, Epps projects as a shutdown perimeter defender. Epps is a savvy playmaker who creates for both her and others off the dribble. Epps ability on both ends of the floor project her to be an instant impact player for head coach Jeff Walz and his Louisville Cardinal program." – Jason Key, Premier Basketball Report
Myah Epps (5-10 PG/2 Fort Wayne, IN/Homestead), brings a poised floor game and the knack for being a distributor. Epps is a 3-level scorer, a superb finisher in traffic combined with a smooth jumper to the arc. Epps emerged around her sophomore year as a separator among her peers, consistently being an impact performer." – Dan Olson, The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
Ayse Melek Demirer
Forward | 6-4
Hometown: Istanbul, Türkiye
High School: Ocean College
Ayse Melek Demirer joins the Cardinals from Türkiye and has had an impressive prep career. This past summer, she competed with Türkiye at the U16 Women's EuroBasket Division B and helped them finish third overall. She led all players in the tournament with 17.4 rebounds per game and was eighth among all players with 15.4 points per game. Her best game came in the group phase when she tallied 31 points and 23 rebounds in a win over Iceland. She was named to the All-Star 5 following the tournament.
She played club most recently for Galatasaray and was the block leader in multiple tournaments. In the U16 Turkish Championship tournament during the 2024-25 season, she took Galatasaray to the third place podium and was named MVP of the tournament. Also last season, Galatasaray was the Istanbul Champion and she was named the MVP in the city.
"I had the opportunity to see her this past summer in Türkiye. Great size, great hands, can run the floor. She is somebody that I think is just scratching the surface of where she is going to get. She is considered one of the top prospects in Türkiye, someone I think is going to be able to come in here and have an immediate impact for us. There is always a learning curve, especially internationally when you come to the States but she is one that with the international basketball that she is still playing will have a lot of experience that she will be able to bring with her to our program." - Jeff Walz
"Ayse is a very exciting prospect and despite her young age is already an established dominant post player on the FIBA scene. 6'4 with a great frame she is a very solid athlete with a good and developing skill set, clearly demonstrated by her consistent high performances playing for Türkiye where she cruised to a double double in most games at the FIBA u16 EuroBasket Championship." -- Dan Bowmaker, BlueStar Europe
Ariyana "Peanut" Cradle
Guard | 5-10
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
High School: SPIRE Institute
Cradle is a 5-10 guard and a four-star prospect according to 247Sports.com. She ranks 42nd overall nationally, third-ranked combo guard nationally and the second-ranked player out of the state of Ohio. Cradle is also a four-star prospect according to ESPN.com and is currently ranked the 34th overall player on the SportsCenter NEXT 100.
Cradle took part in the Overtime Select league this summer, which highlights the top high school products in the country. She averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game and won the Overtime Select championship with her team, the All Knighters.
In her junior season with Westerville South, she averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 2.6 assists per game. She was 40.9% from the floor and was 35.5% from behind the arc. Playing club for Legends U, they won back-to-back 17U Power 24 titles. Cradle was named the 2025 Power 24 17U MVP and also earned 2025 Power 24 17U First Team honors.
"She is a dynamic point guard. She is someone we really targeted early in the recruiting process. Trying to make sure we found that point guard that we thought could be someone that can lead our team, play with some flair and bring a lot of excitement to our program. I truly believe she is the right person." – Jeff Walz
"She had a massive spring and summer of growth - going from combo guard to a true point guard who can run the show. From shooting consistency to decision making, to reading the floor and being an extension of the coach, Cradle stepped up in a major way. Defensively, she is confrontational with her willingness to pressure the ball and be physical in actions. She became a total package guard - well done!!" – Shane Laflin, ESPN Women Hoops
"Cradle is a 5'8 4-star guard out of Spire Institute in Ohio. Cradle is a highly skilled playmaker and shot maker with an aura about her that will captivate the Cardinal fandom. Cradle loves the big moments and big games and will be an immediate key piece for head coach Jeff Walz." – Jason Key, Premier Basketball Report
"Ariyana Cradle (5-6 PG/2 Westerville, OH/Spire Academy), a shifty, athletic combo that can score as a 1 on 1 creator. Dynamic off the dribble, Cradle finds space to operate, slices to the hoop and delivers in traffic. A 3-level scorer as well as a sneaky defender." – Dan Olson, The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
Myah Epps
Guard | 5-10
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
High School: Homestead
Epps is a 5-10 guard and a four-star prospect according to 247Sports.com. She ranks 49th overall nationally, fourth ranked combo guard nationally and is the second-ranked player out of the state of Indiana. Epps is also a four-star prospect according to ESPN.com and is currently ranked the 68th overall player on the SportsCenter NEXT 100.
This past summer, Epps was selected to play for the United States at the Adidas European Tournament that was hosted in Italy. The team was coached by current Los Angeles Sparks head coach Latricia Trammell and Epps was picked as a team captain.
After the 2024-25 season, Epps was named an Honorable Mention MaxPreps Junior All-America. She averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals on 42 percent shooting as the Spartans went 24-3 in her junior year and made it to the Class 4A regional championship game. Epps also earned MaxPreps All-America honors after her sophomore season as well.
"Myah Epps is a recruit we went after, really watched her play and was so impressed with how hard she plays and her ability to play both ends of the floor. She can cause havoc on defense, she is able to score the ball on the offensive end but what really stood out was her on the floor as a teammate. She is always encouraging her other teammates, trying to make sure they felt good, that they were positive and in a good place. That is one of the things that really stood out to me about Myah and I am excited to get her here and integrated into our program." – Jeff Walz
"Myah fits exactly what Jeff Walz is looking for in his guards. Speed, Toughness and Lateral Quickness. Gives Louisville a good guard for years to come!" – @BTNScouting
"Epps is a 5'10 4-star guard out of Homestead High School in Indiana. Extremely active on the defensive end, Epps projects as a shutdown perimeter defender. Epps is a savvy playmaker who creates for both her and others off the dribble. Epps ability on both ends of the floor project her to be an instant impact player for head coach Jeff Walz and his Louisville Cardinal program." – Jason Key, Premier Basketball Report
Myah Epps (5-10 PG/2 Fort Wayne, IN/Homestead), brings a poised floor game and the knack for being a distributor. Epps is a 3-level scorer, a superb finisher in traffic combined with a smooth jumper to the arc. Epps emerged around her sophomore year as a separator among her peers, consistently being an impact performer." – Dan Olson, The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
Ayse Melek Demirer
Forward | 6-4
Hometown: Istanbul, Türkiye
High School: Ocean College
Ayse Melek Demirer joins the Cardinals from Türkiye and has had an impressive prep career. This past summer, she competed with Türkiye at the U16 Women's EuroBasket Division B and helped them finish third overall. She led all players in the tournament with 17.4 rebounds per game and was eighth among all players with 15.4 points per game. Her best game came in the group phase when she tallied 31 points and 23 rebounds in a win over Iceland. She was named to the All-Star 5 following the tournament.
She played club most recently for Galatasaray and was the block leader in multiple tournaments. In the U16 Turkish Championship tournament during the 2024-25 season, she took Galatasaray to the third place podium and was named MVP of the tournament. Also last season, Galatasaray was the Istanbul Champion and she was named the MVP in the city.
"I had the opportunity to see her this past summer in Türkiye. Great size, great hands, can run the floor. She is somebody that I think is just scratching the surface of where she is going to get. She is considered one of the top prospects in Türkiye, someone I think is going to be able to come in here and have an immediate impact for us. There is always a learning curve, especially internationally when you come to the States but she is one that with the international basketball that she is still playing will have a lot of experience that she will be able to bring with her to our program." - Jeff Walz
"Ayse is a very exciting prospect and despite her young age is already an established dominant post player on the FIBA scene. 6'4 with a great frame she is a very solid athlete with a good and developing skill set, clearly demonstrated by her consistent high performances playing for Türkiye where she cruised to a double double in most games at the FIBA u16 EuroBasket Championship." -- Dan Bowmaker, BlueStar Europe
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