UCF Knights women’s basketball Head Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson signed a one-year extension that’ll keep her a Knight until at least the 2022-2023 season, the Knights announced on July 27.
“I am blessed and excited for the confidence of [Athletic Director] Danny White, Brandi Stuart, former President [John] Hitt and new President [Dale] Whittaker,” Abrahamson-Henderson said, per the school’s press release. “Our team’s success over the last two seasons, both on the court and in the classroom, would not be possible without their support.
“Our entire staff is looking forward to building on the success of back-to-back postseason appearances as we head into this season and the future.”
In her first two seasons coaching UCF, Abrahamson-Henderson led the Knights to back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons. “Coach Abe,” as she is known, also helped UCF tie its single-season high in wins, posting 22 Ws in her second season last year.
“We are very fortunate to have Katie Abrahamson-Henderson leading our women’s basketball program,” White said, per the release. “Our Knights are not only growing as basketball players under Coach Abe, but they are also very successful in the classroom and great members of our community.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the future of our women’s basketball program.”
Abrahamson-Henderson first joined the Knights in 2016 after coaching the previous five seasons at the University at Albany. In her first season, she led the Knights to the 2017 Women’s National Invitation Tournament where they earned the program’s first-ever postseason victory, beating Stetson University 73-53.
The Black and Gold ultimately fell to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second round but advanced to the second round the very next season.
UCF loses guards Aliyah Gregory and Zakiya Saunders from last season’s roster but will return rising junior point guard Korneila Wright, UCF’s second-leading scorer last season. Also available will be forwards Tolulope Omokore and Fifi Ndour, making their returns from injury.
Rising sophomore center Masseny Kaba will likely be a focus in the paint, again, this upcoming season after earning 2017-18 American Athletic Conference All-Freshman honors. The 6-foot Nyala Shuler, who can play guard or forward, will also look to play another prominent role after starting all 33 games for the Knights last season.
Coach Abe also earned a contract extension at the end of last season, signing through 2022.
For more on the Knights, as they enter their third season under Coach Abe, follow Anthony Abruzzo on Twitter at @abruzzo_ant.
