Alabama A&M didn’t just win the SWAC regular-season title in 2025-26. They bulldozed through it. A 17-1 conference record, the only loss coming in overtime to Mississippi Valley State. Then they pushed Southern to the brink in the tournament semifinals, lost 51-49, and still landed a Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament bid.
Now head coach Dawn Thornton is making sure that wasn’t a one-off. She announced an 11-player recruiting class this week, and it’s basically a roster overhaul with a plan. Nine transfers, two high school kids, and a clear message: they’re not rebuilding. They’re reloading.
Mostly transfers, mostly from HBCU programs
Thornton went deep into the transfer portal, and she kept it inside the SWAC family for a lot of it. Players from Mississippi Valley State, Bethune-Cookman and Grambling State are coming in. Those are players who already know what it takes to win — or at least survive — in this conference.
But she also reached beyond the HBCU world. Florida Memorial and Virginia State are in the mix too. And at least three newcomers come from former FBS programs: Shunteria Anmele and Logyn McNeil from Houston, plus Miracle Akpotayobo from Arizona. That’s Power Five and Group of Five experience dropping into a program that already had the league’s best record.
Thornton said the group was picked for fit, not just talent.
“We wanted players who could help us continue building a championship program, and we found that in this class. They understand the standard, they embrace the work and they are ready to help us take the next step. Bulldog Nation should be excited because the future of Alabama A&M Women’s Basketball is in great hands.”
The Bulldogs finished 22-11 overall last season. They beat Florida A&M in the tournament before losing to Southern by two points. Then BYU knocked them out of the WBIT in the first round. So the talent was there. The depth maybe wasn’t. This class is designed to fix that.
There’s no telling yet how nine new pieces will mesh with returnees. But Thornton’s track record in the SWAC so far suggests she’ll figure it out. The conference tournament is still the main goal. The regular-season title was nice. The next step is cutting down nets in March.
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