ST. LOUIS – Guard Zya Nugent announced she will transfer to Saint Louis University to continue her basketball career in the 2025-26 season.
 
She joins Saint Louis from West Virginia, where she appeared in 20 games in 2024-25 for the Mountaineers. During her two seasons there, the team posted identical 25-8 records, defeated five Top-25 opponents, and earned back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths, recording a win in each appearance.
 
Nugent has redshirted the two seasons prior—most recently at West Virginia during the 2023-24 campaign. She transferred to West Virginia from Stephen F. Austin, where in 2021-22 she averaged a career-best 12.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. That year, she led the Ladyjacks to their second consecutive regular-season and tournament titles in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), earning WAC Tournament MVP honors after averaging 21 points per game in postseason play.
 
As a sophomore in 2020-21, she started all 27 contests, ranking second on the team in both scoring (12.3 PPG) and minutes played (25.1 MPG). She was named to the Southland Conference Tournament Team and earned All-Southland Conference Honorable Mention recognition, along with a spot on Dave Campbell Texas Basketball's All-Texas Honorable Mention list.
 
As a freshman, she made an immediate impact, appearing in all 29 games and posting 9.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. Her scoring touch was evident early, with 12 double-digit outings, including four straight to close out the season.
 
"Zya has been a part of a postseason tournament play every year of her career including four NCAA tournament berths," head coach Rebecca Tillett said. "She is a conference tournament MVP and a multiple all conference awardee. She is a team first woman and scorer who loves to compete. Our fan base will appreciate the joy she brings to the court in her play and the love she shows her teammates and crowds. She is tough, has a smart basketball mind, and can anticipate what the game calls for on both ends of the floor. She plays her best when the game matters the most. When Zya enters a room, the group energy elevates."
 
A native of Denison, Texas, she was a standout prep player, earning multiple all-state and all-region honors during her high school career. Nugent was also a two-time Adidas National Champion. Off the court, she has also excelled academically, earning a spot on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. Nugent will be pursuing her third master's degree at SLU.
 
Check out her highlight film here.