New UCF women’s hoops coach Gabe Lazo lands first commitment

When Gabe Lazo was introduced as UCF’s next women’s basketball coach last week, he was asked what fans can expect from the Knights.

“We’re going to take charges. We’re going to dive for loose balls. We’re going to defend, we’re going to rebound, all the things that are controllable,” Lazo said. “We’re going to play with great energy, great effort and great enthusiasm.”

A few days later, Lazo landed his first player through the transfer market, getting a commitment from former Pittsburgh guard Mikayla Johnson.

The 6-foot-1 Johnson averaged 13 points and 5.1 rebounds in 28 games for the Panthers last season. The junior started 27 of the team’s 31 games, averaging nearly 32 minutes per game for a Pitt team that finished 8-23, including a 1-17 mark in the ACC.

Johnson started her college career at Colorado, spending two seasons with the Buffaloes, averaging 1.9 points in just 15 appearances after redshirting her freshman season.

She transferred to Pittsburgh for the 2024-25 season, stepping into the starting small guard role and averaging 10.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 32 games with 27 starts.

Lazo must rebuild a roster that has already seen more than a handful of players enter the transfer portal, including starters Leah Harmon (15.7 points per game), Khyala Ngodu (11 ppg.) and Summer Yancy (6.5 ppg.). Other players entering the portal include Savannah Scott, Kayanna Cox, Logan Reed, Audreonia Benson and Samari Bankhead.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.