Head coach Denise Dillon is tasked with reconstructing the Wildcats after a wave of eight players vacated the 2023–2024 roster due to the transfer portal or graduation.
Rebuilding is under way, as Villanova’s first transfer players for 2024–2025 signed this week. Three players announced their plans to join the Wildcats: rising graduate guard Lara Edmanson from Santa Clara, rising junior guard Ryanne Allen from Vanderbilt and rising graduate guard Bronagh Power-Cassidy from Holy Cross.
Santa Clara Transfer Lara Edmanson
Edmanson was the first to announce her commitment to Villanova for her final year of eligibility through an Instagram post on Friday, May 3.
Edmanson played all four years at Santa Clara. She finished her senior season as the Broncos’ third-leading scorer, averaging 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. She also appeared in all 34 games in Santa Clara’s 2023–2024 campaign, which finished in the second round of the WBIT.
A native of Australia, Edmanson was the star athlete of her high school in Melbourne. She lettered in a tremendous seven sports: water polo, Australian football, track and field, softball, cricket, snowboarding and basketball. Edmanson immediately contributed during her freshman year at Santa Clara, appearing in 22 games that season.
Vanderbilt Transfer Ryanne Allen
Next to commit was Allen, who stated her plans through an Instagram post on Saturday, May 4.
Not only did Allen help bring Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, PA its 2021 State Championship, but she did so alongside Villanova junior guard Kaitlyn Orihel. In the post, Allen announced her decision to return to the Philadelphia area and reunite with Orihel using the phrase “Coming Home.”
Allen was a prominent player in her two years at Vanderbilt. Allen thrived on the floor in her debut season with the Commodores, playing in 30 games and starting seven while reaching double-figures in points six times. She received SEC Freshman of the Week honors twice.
However, Allen saw less playing time in her sophomore year. She averaged 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds per game off the bench while shooting 40 percent from the field. She also played in Vanderbilt’s March Madness run that ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Holy Cross Transfer Bronagh Power-Cassidy
The third transfer player to join the Villanova roster, so far, was Power-Cassidy. The news came out through an official Instagram post from Villanova women’s basketball on Saturday, May 4.
In her senior season, Power-Cassidy was the Crusaders’ sharpest shooter and an expert from outside the arc. She averaged 16.8 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from three.
Power-Cassidy was named Patriot League Championship MVP as well as Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, leading Holy Cross to win the conference tournament. She spearheaded the Crusaders through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, scoring 19 points in their second-round loss to Iowa.
Growing up in Dublin, Ireland, Power-Cassidy competed on the Irish National Team in the FIBA Youth EuroBasket Championship four times. After moving to the United States for her senior year of high school, Power-Cassidy played at Holy Cross for all four of her undergraduate years. She will come to Villanova for her final year of eligibility.
The skill and athleticism of Edmanson, Allen and Power-Cassidy will be sure to strengthen the 2024–2025 Villanova roster.
