UTSA stars Jordyn Jenkins, Elyssa Coleman will return for redshirt senior seasons

“I’m pleased and thrilled to announce the return of Elyssa Coleman and Jordyn Jenkins,” Aston said in the team’s press release. “… Both players bring a depth of importance to the function of our basketball team, from the pure skill and talent that we see in the greatness of Jenkins to the dominating effort and presence in the paint that Coleman brings.

“Building and re-branding a program in the portal age is incredibly hard when players constantly leave. … I’m so excited that these two young women have the desire and commitment to stay at UTSA and help to continue to move the needle.”

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The Roadrunners ended the 2023-24 season with a 18-15 record, a turnaround from 13-19 in 2022-23, and advanced to the second round of the WNIT. Coleman and Jenkins played a huge role in the team’s success on both sides of the court.

The 6’3 Coleman averaged 10.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game this season, with a season high of 32 points. Her defense helped UTSA hold opponents to 36.4% shooting, which ranked 19th in the country.

Coleman originally signed with Aston, then the head coach at Texas, out of high school. She transferred to UTSA as a redshirt freshman, so next season will be her fourth with the Roadrunners.

“I chose to come back to UTSA because I feel like even though we made history there were still some goals we had that didn’t get accomplished,” Coleman said in the team’s release. “On top of the fact that I love our coaching staff … so I figured why not come back and finish what we started.”

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Despite missing most of the season due to an offseason injury, Jenkins averaged 17.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in 12 games.

Jenkins was the Conference USA Player of the Year in 2022-23, before the program moved to the American Athletic Conference. In her first week back on the court this season, she won the AAC’s Player of the Week award. With her back for the entire 2024-25 season, she, alongside Coleman, will be a key factor in continuing UTSA’s upward trajectory.

“Four years down as a collegiate athlete and being a part of the UTSA Athletics community has allowed me tremendous growth. Returning for my final season here at UTSA was a no-brainer,” Jenkins said in the team’s release. “The coaching staff and my teammates’ love and support leave me with endless opportunities. I’m glad to call UTSA home for another season.”

Related content from November: Locked On Women’s Basketball: Karen Aston has UTSA’s program growing, since that is what she does

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Ever since the NCAA granted players an extra year of eligibility if they competed in the 2020-21 season, many players have elected to take a fifth year, whether at their original school or elsewhere. That includes Coleman and Jenkins as well as players such as Virginia Tech’s Georgia Amoore and LSU’s Hailey Van Lith, who both entered the transfer portal this week for their fifth years. However, this is the last class that will have that “COVID year” because they were true freshmen in 2020-21.