Laila Phelia

Laila Phelia
Phelia with Michigan at the 2023 Big Ten women's basketball tournament
Texas Longhorns
PositionGuard
LeagueSEC
Personal information
Born (2002-12-28) December 28, 2002 (age 21)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Career information
High schoolMount Notre Dame (Reading, Ohio)
CollegeMichigan (2022–2024)
Texas (2024–present)
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA Women's AmeriCup
Silver medal – second place 2023 León Team

Laila Phelia (born December 28, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the Texas Longhorns. She previously played for the Michigan Wolverines. She represented the United States at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup and won a silver medal.

High school career

Phelia played basketball for Mount Notre Dame High School in Reading, Ohio, where she was a four-time Girls Greater Catholic League first-team selection. As a freshman, she started 24 games and averaged 9.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, she averaged 8.9 points and five rebounds per game, and helped lead the Cougars to the Division I state championship in 2019. As a junior, she averaged 13.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.1 assists per game and helped lead the Cougars to a perfect 28–0 record and a regional championship before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a senior, she averaged 16.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game and led her team to another state championship in 2021.[1] She finished her high school career on a 72-game winning streak.[2] On April 27, 2020, she verbally committed to play basketball at Michigan.[3] She was ranked No. 28 by ESPN, No. 31 by Blue Star, No. 54 by ASGR and No. 57 by Prospects Nation.[4]

College career

Freshman season

During the 2021–22 season, Phelia appeared in 29 games with 14 starts, and averaged 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 22.9 minutes per game. She made her debut on November 9, 2021, in a game against IUPUI and recorded four points and four rebounds.[5] On December 19, 2021, she recorded 12 points, five rebounds, and two steals to help the Wolverines upset No. 5 Baylor, 74–68, in overtime during the Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase. This marked Michigan's first win over a top-five opponent in program history.[6] She was subsequently named the Big Ten's co-freshmen of the week, and the USBWA National Freshman of the Week.[7][8] On February 6, 2022, she recorded a then career-high 24 points, four rebounds and three assists in a game against Iowa.[9] She scored in double figures nine times during the season. Following the season she was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team.[10][11]

Sophomore season

During the 2022–23 season, Phelia appeared in 26 games with 24 starts, and averaged 16.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 33.1 minutes per game. Phelia scored in double figures 23 times with eleven 20-point games. On November 16, 2022, she recorded a career-high 25 points, on 11-of-15 shooting, along with three rebounds, two steals and one block in a game against Western Michigan.[12][13] On November 27, 2022, during the final of the Gulf Coast Showcase against Baylor, she recorded 20 points and was named to the Gulf Coast Showcase All-Tournament Team.[14][15] On January 29, 2023, she suffered a leg injury in the final minutes of a game against Minnesota. At the time of her injury, she was the team's best defender and leading scorer.[16] She missed the month of February due to injury and returned on March 2, 2023, during the 2023 Big Ten women's basketball tournament. During the second-round game against Penn State she recorded 13 points and four rebounds.[17][18] Following the season, she was named to the All-Big Ten second team by both the coaches and media.[19][20]

Junior season

During the 2023–24 season, Phelia started 33 games, and averaged 16.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 35.0 minutes per game. She led the team in scoring, reached double figures 29 times, with twelve 20-point games and one 30-point game. With 14 points in a game against Maryland on January 24, 2024, Phelia became the 31st player in Michigan program history to surpass 1,000 career points.[21] On February 24, 2024, she recorded her first career double-double, with 16 points, ten rebounds and a career-high seven assists in a game against Northwestern.[22] On March 8, 2024, during the quarterfinals of the 2024 Big Ten women's basketball tournament, she recorded a career-high 30 points in a 69–56 upset victory against No. 12 Indiana. Michigan trailed by as many as 17 points, but Phelia scored 20 points in the second half to help lead the Wolverines to the win.[23] During the Big Ten tournament she averaged 24.6 points and over 37 minutes per game in three tournament games. She was subsequently named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team.[24] During Big Ten conference play, she averaged 17.2 points, while leading the league in minutes played at 36.6 per game. Following the season she was named to the All-Big Ten first team by both the coaches and media.[25][26]

Senior season

On April 9, 2024, Phelia entered the NCAA transfer portal.[27][28] On April 22, 2024, she transferred to Texas.[29][30]

National team career

On May 15, 2023, Phelia was named to the United States women's national basketball team for the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup.[31][32] During the tournament she averaged 3.4 points, three rebounds and 1.1 steals in 20.9 minutes per game and won a silver medal. She played the fourth-most minutes on the team and held the second-best plus/minus average at +9.6.[33][34][35]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2021–22 Michigan 29 14 22.9 37.5 27.8 78.9 2.8 0.8 0.8 0.1 1.6 8.8
2022–23 Michigan 26 24 33.1 43.7 41.7 82.9 4.2 1.4 1.4 0.5 2.3 16.7
2023–24 Michigan 33 33 35.1 42.3 32.1 80.1 3.6 2.0 1.2 0.3 2.1 16.8
Career 88 71 30.5 43.9 34.4 80.7 3.5 1.4 1.1 0.3 2.0 14.1
Statistics retrieved from Sports-Reference.[36]

Personal life

Phelia's father, Greg, played basketball at Northern Kentucky from 1989 to 1993 and ranks 17th in program history with 1,310 points.[2]

References

  1. ^ Weber, James (March 14, 2021). "Mount 'She played out of her mind.' MND, Bransford outlast Newark in 2OT for DI state title". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Laila Phelia Bio". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  3. ^ Dermer, Shelby (April 27, 2020). "Mount Notre Dame junior guard Laila Phelia commits to University of Michigan". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  4. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (November 11, 2020). "Wolverines Sign Trio to National Letters of Intent". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  5. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (November 9, 2021). "Michigan Opens 2021-22 Campaign With Overtime Win Against IUPUI". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  6. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (December 19, 2021). "U-M Takes Down Baylor in OT to Earn Program's First Win Over Top-Five Team". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "Michigan's Kobe Bufkin, Laila Phelia earn Big Ten freshman of the week honors". The Detroit News. December 20, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  8. ^ "Jones, Phelia Are USBWA Women's National, Freshman Players of the Week". sportswriters.net. December 21, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  9. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (February 6, 2022). "Wolverines Hang On Against Iowa for Eighth Straight Win". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  10. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (March 1, 2022). "KBA Named Coach of the Year; Hillmon, Brown and Phelia Honored by Big Ten". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  11. ^ "2021-22 Big Ten Women's Basketball Honors Announced". BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. March 1, 2022. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  12. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (November 16, 2022). "Kiser, Phelia Send Michigan Past Western Michigan". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  13. ^ "Phelia, Kiser score 25 each, No. 23 Michigan women roll". apnews.com. November 16, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Cushnir, Liza (November 27, 2022). "Michigan knocks off Baylor, 84-75, winning Gulf Coast Showcase". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  15. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (November 27, 2022). "Wolverines End Game on 20-5 Run, Win Gulf Coast Showcase". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Kahn, Andrew (February 21, 2023). "Michigan still adjusting without Laila Phelia, whose return date is unknown". MLive.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  17. ^ Conlin, Jack (March 2, 2023). "Phelia makes immediate impact in return against Penn State". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  18. ^ Ford, Ryan (March 2, 2023). "Big Ten women's basketball tournament: Michigan denies PSU, 63-61, in Laila Phelia's return". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  19. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (February 28, 2023). "Brown, Kiser, Phelia Honored by Big Ten". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  20. ^ "2022-23 Big Ten Women's Basketball Honors Announced". BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. February 28, 2023. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  21. ^ Edwards, Zach (January 25, 2024). "Laila Phelia becomes Michigan's 31st player to score 1,000 career points". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  22. ^ Edwards, Zach (February 24, 2024). "Laila Phelia's first double-double bolsters Michigan's third-quarter run against Northwestern". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  23. ^ Ford, Ryan (March 9, 2024). "Michigan women stun Indiana in Big Ten tourney with epic second-half rally for 69-56 win". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  24. ^ Smith, Megan (March 13, 2024). "Laila Phelia named to Big Ten All-Tournament team after elevating play in postseason". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  25. ^ Smith, Megan (March 6, 2024). "Laila Phelia earns All-Big Ten First Team honors, Lauren Hansen honorable mention". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  26. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (March 5, 2024). "Phelia Earns All-Big Ten First-Team Honors". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  27. ^ Philippou, Alexa (April 9, 2024). "Michigan All-Big Ten guard Laila Phelia enters transfer portal". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  28. ^ Chengelis, Angelique S. (April 9, 2024). "Michigan women's basketball leading scorer Phelia enters transfer portal". The Detroit News. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  29. ^ Philippou, Alexa (April 22, 2024). "Former Michigan standout Laila Phelia transfers to Texas". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  30. ^ Davis, Danny (April 23, 2024). "After earning all-conference honors at Michigan, Laila Phelia joins Texas basketball team". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  31. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (May 15, 2023). "Phelia Named to 2023 USA Basketball AmeriCup Team". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  32. ^ Kahn, Andrew (May 15, 2023). "Michigan basketball player chosen for USA AmeriCup team". MLive.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  33. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (July 10, 2023). "Phelia Helps USA Basketball to Silver at AmeriCup". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  34. ^ Kahn, Andrew (July 10, 2023). "Michigan basketball player medals at international tournament". MLive.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  35. ^ "FIBA: Cincinnati stars contribute to AmeriCup success". The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  36. ^ "Laila Phelia College Stats". Sports-Reference. Retrieved April 14, 2024.