RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team has signed 6-foot-1 forward Michelle Ugwah out of the transfer portal, head coach Greg Todd announced Tuesday.
 
A native of Cork, Ireland, Ugwah joins the Colonels after spending the 2025-26 season at the University of San Francisco, where she averaged 4.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 21 appearances.
 
"Michelle brings us a skilled combination of size, toughness and international experience that we are excited to add to our program," said Todd. "She has already proven she can compete at the Division I level at both San Francisco and Morehead State, and we feel her best basketball is still ahead of her."
 
Last season, Ugwah helped San Francisco advance to the West Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals and earn a berth into the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
 
She scored in double figures twice during the season, including an 11-point, eight-rebound performance against Gonzaga on Jan. 29 and a 13-point outing on 6-for-9 shooting at Santa Clara on Feb. 28.
 
Ugwah also contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks across three WCC Tournament games against San Diego, Pepperdine and Santa Clara from March 6-8 in Las Vegas. She followed with nine points in the opening round of the WNIT against Utah Valley on March 19.
 
"Michelle plays with tremendous energy around the basket, rebounds at a high level and gives us another physical presence in the paint," Todd said. "We believe she will make an immediate impact for our team and culture here at EKU."

Before transferring to San Francisco, Ugwah spent two seasons at Morehead State University from 2023-25.
 
As a redshirt freshman in 2024-25 with MSU, she started 19 games and averaged 7.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest. She posted seven double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 20 points against Lindenwood, and grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds against Jackson State.
 
Prior to her collegiate career, Ugwah attended DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida. Internationally, she represented Ireland at the 2024 FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket Division B Championship.
 
Ugwah averaged 8.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game during the tournament, highlighted by an 18-point, 18-rebound performance in a win over Croatia. She also reached double figures against Slovakia and Ukraine.
 
EKU captured the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season championship, the 11th conference championship in school history, and has posted three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time as a program. Todd was named 2026 ASUN Coach of the Year and four Colonels earned all-conference honors, including two first team selections.
 
Ugwah is scheduled to report to campus this summer and will begin offseason workouts.