The 2024-25 season marked arguably the most successful one in the history of the Texas Longhorns as Vic Schaefer’s squad ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll for the first time in program history. What seemed like a season where they appeared unbeatable, their only two losses came at the hands of Notre Dame and the Gamecocks, with Dawn Staley’s side again sealing their fate in the Final Four earlier this month.
While the likes of Taylor Jones and Madison Booker shined brightly on the stat sheet as the team marched on to their first Final Four since 2003, another player contributed by doing the intangibles and just about whatever it takes to win. Schaefer calls her a Swiss Army Knife, something she takes great pride in. “I will do all the little things,” Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda said. “Whatever is needed, I’m that utility kid. Defensively, you need a specific assignment, you need me to box someone out, you need me to get a stop? I’ll do it. I’ll get a rebound, I’ll make a steal or layup, I’ll set a good screen. That’s the role I’ve really embraced.”
Although Mwenentanda averaged 5.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and one assist per game playing 16.7 minutes per game during the season, her performances during the NCAA Tournament set all her naysayers straight. One such performance came in the Round of 32 against Illinois, scoring a career-high 19 points off the bench and grabbing six rebounds to help Texas advance to the Sweet Sixteen. As the hurdles got bigger, Mwenentanda only got better, proving her versatility on the floor once again as she held Agnes Emma-Nnopu to zero rebounds in the second half after Nnopu caused trouble grabbing eight first-half rebounds.
So, Mwenentanda’s announcement is sure to hurt Texans. On3’s Talia Goodman has reported Texas’ Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda has entered the transfer portal, according to sources.
BREAKING: Texas’ Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda has entered the transfer portal, sources told @On3sports.
The 6-2 junior averaged 5.6 ppg this season.
TRACKER: https://t.co/StsxDxjlYl pic.twitter.com/TiHv8VoVwA
— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB) April 18, 2025
The decision comes after a junior year where she sharpened her skills and came into her own, picking up valuable NCAA Tournament experience. But while some fans understood her decision to move on, others found it plain shocking.
Fans shocked as Mwenentanda leaves the Longhorns
As fans rushed to their timelines, discussion around the coveted senior continued on ‘X’. One fan that couldn’t understand the decision tweeted, “whyyy ?!? you was gone be a starter next season.” For someone who had just stepped into a starting role in the 2024-25 season, Mwenentanda was poised for a breakout next season. And with key players like Shaylee Gonzales departing for the WNBA and Aaliyah Moore battling injuries? Texans’ hopes were pinned on her. When Rori Harmon announced that she’d be returning to the team for another season, many were even awaiting her charm in the Madison-Booker connection. Well, it seems like those dreams have been locked in a cupboard.
As if in reply to the previous comment, another user said, “She may want to develop her offense some more & she’s not getting that at Texas unfortunately.” So, while things ahead were possibly rosy, Texas’ system under Schaefer emphasizes a dominant-paint strategy. In fact, they rarely ever attempt the long ball, which also gives them the lowest 3-point rate in the nation. “The proof’s in the pudding,” Schaefer had said of his conventional coaching strategy. However, it seems like that doesn’t sit well with someone who showed versatility in high school but struggled to expand her perimeter game in college. So, Mwenentanda might just be looking for offensive freedom.
And fans of other teams jumped at this opportunity. After all, her NCAA experience could be a vital piece wherever she goes. “great pick up for whoever lands her, she was hooping in the tourney” the fan wrote. Two of those teams could end up being UConn or Notre Dame, both known for developing their backcourt. But in the age of the transfer portal, moving on has become easier for fanbases, as, according to some, it’s not just rival teams who could benefit.
“Texas could Add someone from the portal that can contribute more,” said another user. Well, Schaefer’s ability to rebuild rosters is well-documented, with the Longhorns maintaining a top-15 recruiting class in 2022 that included Mwenentanda, Jordana Codio, and Amina Muhammad. And thanks to NIL deals, the transfer portal is brimming with talent. And to Texas’ benefit, they take full advantage of it.
And considering that Texas lost its “two-headed monster” Taylor Jones, even Vic is not sleeping on offensive efficiency. They have already started making moves with the addition of former Arizona forward Breya Cunningham and former FAU center Lovisa Asbrink Hose. The team will be looking to add a shooter. They had the opportunity to develop Mwenetanda herself, but that is now out the window.
Some fans think that also think that “Texas must be getting involved with Barker”. Janiah Barker is ranked among the top 10 transfers for 2025-26 by ESPN, and is a versatile forward whose scoring and rebounding could fill the void left by Mwenentanda. Add her prior experience in the SEC, and she instantly becomes an attractive target for a team targeting a deeper run in the relatively new waters of the conference.
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