DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis women's basketball head coach Jennifer Gross has completed her freshman class for the 2026-27 season, with Anna Bassett, Layla Dixon, Rebecca Donnelly, Marta Forsline, and Taylor Hicks each joining the team next season.

"We are thrilled to announce the signing of five incredible student-athletes to our Aggie family," head coach Jennifer Gross said. "This group brings an exciting mix of size, versatility, athleticism, and a commitment to helping us successfully transition into the Mountain West Conference. More importantly, they are all genuine, team-first individuals who align perfectly with our UC Davis culture."

Anna Bassett (Guard/6'0"/Brisbane, Aus./Ipswich Force)

A shooting guard out of Brisbane, Australia, Bassett currently plays for the Ipswich Force in the NBL1, Australia's premier semi-professional league. A three-time girls basketball player of the year at St. Peter's Lutheran in Brisbane, she helped lead her school to the top of their division in the Queensland school basketball competition. Bassett has also played three years in the Queensland State League, winning a silver and bronze medal at the Australian Nationals.

In the NBL1, she's made a big impact for Ipswich, scoring a career-high 23 points on seven-for-seven shooting from beyond the arc. Overall, she shot 43% from three last season.

Gross on Bassett:

"Anna is a dynamic, high motor guard who impacts winning on both ends of the floor. Her relentless energy, excellent 3-point shooting, and ability to make plays for others set her apart. Anna is an outstanding teammate and glue player who will have a positive impact on our team both on and off the court. Her experience competing in the NBL1 has been extremely valuable and will help her transition quickly here at UC Davis. We're very excited to start coaching her!"

Layla Dixon (Guard/5'11"/Concord, Calif./Cardondelet HS/Cal Stars Nike EYBL)

A Bay Area native from Cardondelet High School, Dixon has been a key factor for the Cougars over her first three seasons. After being named a captain ahead of her junior season, Dixon led Cardondelet to a 30-6 record in 2024-25 on their way to a CIF State Championship. Dixon's play earned her several accolades, including being named Defensive Player of the Year in the East Bay Athletic League, All-Bay Area First Team, and San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro First Team last season.

Additionally, Dixon has also competed with the Cal Stars program on the Nike EYBL circuit, a team that has produced 16 McDonald's All-Americans and 10 different WNBA draft picks.

Gross on Dixon:

"Layla brings an impressive blend of size, skill and competitive toughness to the guard spot. She's a great three-point shooter, can post up and score at the rim, and defends with an edge that earned her Defensive Player of the Year in her league. On top of that, Layla is a proven winner who led her team to a state championship. All these strengths and her winning mentality will make her extremely valuable to our program. We are thrilled that she is an Aggie!"

Rebecca Donnelly (Guard/6'1"/Sydney, Aus./Norths Bears)

A 6'1 guard out of Sydney, Australia, Donnelly was recently selected by Basketball Australia to participate in the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships this December. As a standout with the Norths Bears in the Northern Suburbs Basketball Association, she was chosen the league's Junior Player of the Year this season. Just this week, she was named to the New South Wales U20 team to represent her state in the 2026 U20 National Championships. This is her third time being selected for an all-state team as she represented NSW previously in both the U16 and U18 competitions.

Donnelly competed with AUSA Hoops this summer, traveling to tournaments in the US. She scored 21 points to help her team win the Nike Tournament of Champions 17U title in Chicago.

Gross on Donnelly:

"The first time we saw Rebecca play, we knew she'd be a perfect fit in our system. She's an elite shooter with a quick release who can score at all three levels. She will thrive in our up-tempo system, using her high-IQ playmaking to create offense. She is also an athletic defender who can guard multiple positions. Her experience with the state and national teams, along with her time competing in the NBL1, will undoubtedly prepare her to make an impact here. We can't wait to get her on the court with us!"

Marta Forsline (Forward/6'3"/Aurora, Minn./Mesabi East HS/MN Suns P24)

Coming to the Aggies from the North Star State, Forsline has had a very successful high school career thus far, already surpassing 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for the Mesabi East Giants. She enters her senior season closing in on 2,000 career points. In her sophomore and junior years, Forsline played all over the court and collected a number of accolades, including First Team All-Conference twice, and First Team All-Area and All-State Honorable Mention. As a junior she averaged 25 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 37% from three.

She was also named Breakout Player of the Year for Minnesota AAU as she exploded onto the club scene with the MN Suns Power 24 team this past season.

Gross on Forsline:

"Marta is a 6'3 forward with a positive energy that shines both on and off the court. She is highly versatile and is comfortable operating inside and out. She can run the floor, score in the paint, shoot the 3, and facilitate from the high post - fitting the mold of the successful posts we've developed over the years at UC Davis. Marta has the drive and skillset to be a difference-maker for our program, and we can't wait to watch her leave her mark over her career!"

Taylor Hicks (Forward/6'0"/Hutto, Texas/Hutto HS/Team Southwest Adidas 3SSB)

Out of Hutto, Texas, Hicks is a versatile 6'0" forward with the ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Throughout her high school and club careers, she has played every position from point guard to post. A skilled playmaker who can score both inside and out, Taylor showcased her shooting range last season by knocking down seven three-pointers against Westwood High School. She was named Newcomer of the Year for the district in addition to being selected 1st team All-District. She also led Hutto to the UIL 6A playoffs for the first time in school history. Hicks competed on the Adidas club circuit with Team Southwest 3SSB.

Coach Gross on Hicks:

"Taylor's versatility is unmatched. She can score from everywhere on the court. She is efficient inside the paint and can also consistently knock down the three, making her a matchup nightmare. That being said, my favorite thing about her game is her ability to pass the ball. She'll be able to use her tremendous vision to find teammates on the fast break or to set them up for opportunities in the half-court. We're excited to see Taylor thrive in our system!"

This class will come to the Aggies to coincide with the team's move to the Mountain West Conference, giving the team plenty of reinforcement in both the front and backcourts for the 2026-27 season.