Cullowhee, N.C. -- Head coach Jonathan Tsipis and the Western Carolina women's basketball staff put the finishing touches on their 2025-26 recruiting class with the addition of junior college transfer Joyce Mulumba. A 6-0 forward, Mulumba joins the Catamounts after playing last season with the Sacramento City College Panthers, and caps the nine-member incoming class.
"We are extremely excited to add Joyce Mulumba to our Western Carolina women's basketball team for the 2025-26 season. Her ability to rebound at such a high level will help ignite our transition game," said Tsipis, who enters his second season in Cullowhee after guiding the Catamounts to their first double-digit win total since 2014. "Joyce only played basketball her senior year in high school before heading to junior college. I think she has tremendous potential and will make an impact here at Western Carolina."
A native of Patterson, Calif., Mulumba averaged 18.4 rebounds per game for the Panthers in 2024-25 and was one of just two players in women's college basketball at any level to record more than 500 rebounds last season. Mulumba boarded 516 misses in 28 games, second only to Mary Schleusner of Washington & Lee (569).
Mulumba recorded a season-high 32 rebounds against Diablo Valley last season, as Sac City battled for a 58-51 road victory. She also averaged 8.7 points per game while shooting at a 46.3% clip, leading to an ABCA All-American Honorable Mention nod.
Mulumba is the ninth member of the 2025 Catamount recruiting class, joining a group that consists of three additional transfers in Betsey Burnett (Charlotte, N.C. | Johnson C. Smith), Ary Dizon (Tampa, Fla. | Cal State Bakersfield), and Ally Hollifield (Shelby, N.C. | Memphis). Five freshmen, including Christina Bowers (Liberty, N.C.), Ellie Fryans (Weddington, N.C.), Riley Price (Blacksburg, Va.), Ellie Richardson (Scottsburg, Ind.), and Justice Zimmerman (Chapel Hill, N.C.) complete the 2025-26 newcomers.
The incoming Catamount squad joins the four returning players, including guards Taj Hunter and Kehinde Obasuyi, and posts Grace Pack and Kennedy Hilsenroth. That quartet combined for 324 points, 151 rebounds, 41 assists, 40 steals, and 19 blocks across 1,093 combined minutes of game action last season for the Catamounts.
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