The Kentucky women’s basketball team has an almost entirely new roster for the 2024-25 season. New head coach Kenny Brooks built his roster through the transfer portal and by adding some talented signees.

There are two players on the roster who have playing experience at Kentucky and who could fill some roles for the Cats this season – Virgie, Kentucky, native Cassidy Rowe and Saniah Tyler.

Both players saw significant playing time last year, when the Cats were thin for a number of reasons. Tyler played in all 32 games and started 13 times. She was third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.2 points per game and she led the team with 61 three-pointers made.

Rowe played in 31 games with 16 starts. She averaged 2.6 points per outing and had 39 assists.

Brooks told the story of his first meeting with Rowe at media day last week.

“Cassidy, I tell the story a lot, when I met with each and every player from last year’s team, some of them were already in the portal, and Cassidy, when she started talking about her experiences here,” Brooks said. “I swore when she started crying it was blue tears, and I’m like, man, this kid had me — she had me at hello just because she knew how much she loved Kentucky.”

Brooks believes that Rowe’s passion for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, as well as its flagship university, are very important.

“We’ve been pulling off of those experiences because as newcomers, I know what Kentucky is from an outsider, but I’m like, I can’t. Why Kentucky. Everybody says, this is Kentucky. I’m asking her why,” Brooks said. “She stuttered and stammered a little bit, and that was enough for me. It was just everything. She cried. She talked about it. She’s been great here. What she may lack in height or anything else, she makes up for it with her pride of Kentucky.”

Rowe also remembers that first meeting very well.

“That first meeting, I just remember there was a thought of, who knows what he’s going to want,” Rowe said. “I just wanted to let him know that I was a Kentucky girl through and through and that I will do whatever it takes to play for this program. He was honest, he said it wasn’t going to be easy but that’s what I love. So that was just motivation for me. I think he’s a wonderful coach and I’m really thankful that he’s given me the opportunity to stay here.”

How does Rowe think she can help this year’s team?

“I have the two years under my belt right now and just having the experience of even playing in Memorial my freshman year,” she said. “Knowing the expectations of the University of Kentucky and knowing how the fans care. I will bring that outlook this season and just encourage the other girls to do the same.”

As far as Tyler, Brooks likes that fact that she has been through the rigors of the Southeastern Conference. Brooks and his staff have called on Tyler to provide information.

“Saniah, we call her ST, has had probably the most experience,” Brooks said. “There’s been plenty of times when I’ve played against SEC teams, but I’m asking her for the longevity part of it, hey, isn’t this league this or is this league that. She’s been able to share some of her experiences with me, too.”

Tyler echoed her head coach’s sentiments when asked what she can bring to this year’s team.

“Just knowledge about the SEC,” she said. “It’s physical in the SEC, so in practice, when we guard them, we try to be aggressive because they’re going to get that in the game, so just preparing them for what they might see in the game.”

How does Tyler believe she can contribute to the Cats’ cause this season?

“Just being somebody they can lean on, somebody that can give them defense when they need it, someone who can hit a shot when they need it,” she said. “I have really taken pride in my defense. One-on-one defense is something that I love. That’s what I’ve been taking pride in and I think I can help the team with that.”

Both Rowe and Tyler could have roles this season that could be beneficial to the Cats.