University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI women’s basketball: Panthers add five on early signing day
11/12/2025 9:16:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The UNI women's basketball team announced the addition of five athletes to the 2026-27 Panther hoops roster. The additions see two athletes from the state of Iowa, two from Minnesota, and one from Kansas.
"We are so excited to add these 5 amazing young ladies to our Panther family," said head coach Tanya Warren. "I love the versatility they add to our roster. Adding Taylor at the point guard position with her ability to distribute the ball and play defense combined with getting two scoring guards in Emily and Harper really helps add to our future depth. Then when you look at Le'Sedra and Callie and what they bring to our front court we couldn't be happier. Le'Sedra can score inside and outside and Callie will provide us some size and strength on the interior to go along with her ability to play from the perimeter. It's a great day for the Panthers!"
TAYLOR FRANCK
Taylor Franck comes to UNI from Mount Vernon High School, where she competed on the basketball, track and field, soccer, and softball teams. An Iowa Class 3A State Champion in 2025 and State Semifinalist in 2024, Franck holds the Mount Vernon HS steals record after four seasons as a Varsity athlete. The 5-5 guard was named to the All-Conference team and an All-State Honorable Mention, as well as a two-season team captain. On the soccer field, Franck was an All-Conference Second Teamer as well as an Academic All-Conference student in basketball, soccer, and softball. She was named to the National Honor Society twice.
HARPER WHETSTINE
A native of Troy, Kansas, Harper Whetstine comes to UNI from Troy High School, where she competed on the basketball, track and field, softball, and volleyball teams. The multi-sport athlete heads into her senior season with the Trojans coming off a junior year that saw her be named NEKL Player of the League, First Team All-State, and Small-Class Defensive Player of the Year on the basketball court. In volleyball, Whetstine was named All-NEKL First Team and the AVCA Player to Watch 2024-25. The 5-9 guard set school records with 618 points in a season, 43 points in a single game, 154 steals in a season, an 84% (144-for-171) free throw percentage, 29 consecutive free throws made, 144 career threes, and 66 State Tournament points. Her team was the 2024-25 NEKL Champions after an undefeated season and went on to place third at the State Tournament.
CALLIE OAKLAND
A 6-0 forward from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Callie Oakland joins the Panthers from St. Croix Lutheran Academy, where she competed on the Basketball, volleyball, and softball teams. A five-year varsity basketball athlete, Oakland enters her senior season with the Crusaders as the all-time leading rebounder and blocker in St. Croix history. The forward is currently fourth on the all-time scoring list and holds the school's best field-goal percentage mark. Oakland is a four-time All-Conference athlete on the basketball court and a three-time All-Conference athlete on the volleyball court. In the classroom, she has been named to the National Honor Society three times.
EMILY LARSEN
Emily Larsen joins the Panthers out of Cedar Rapids Prairie High School, where she played basketball under head coach Bruce Dall. The 5-11 guard enters her senior season with the Hawks off a junior season that saw her named First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Metro, IGCA All-District, IGCA 5A Second Team All-State, and IBCA All-District. The Fairfax, Iowa native averaged 15.6 points per game with 45.2 field goal and 36.5 three-point percentages. Her junior season saw a Mississippi Valley Conference Championship, a District Championship, and a Class 5A State Quarterfinal run.
LE'SEDRA WILLIAMS
A 6-1 guard/forward out of Minnetonka High School in Minnesota, Le'Sedra Williams comes to UNI after being named one of the top Minnesota high school girls prospects in the state by Dana Becker of SI High School Minnesota. Williams is coming off a 17U EYCL Championship with the All-Iowa Attack Summer AAU squad and averaged 15.7 points per game her junior season at Minnetonka, a team that was Lake Conference Champions and State Runners-Up in 2022 and 2023 and Lake Conference Runners-Up in 2024.
UNI women's basketball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Women's Basketball), X (@UNIwbb), and on Instagram (@uni_wbb). The 2025-26 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com
