Girls basketball: One of state's top seniors flips from Butler to Indiana Wesleyan

Joslyn Bricker, one of Indiana's top 2026 girls basketball recruits, has flipped her commitment from NCAA Division I Butler to NAIA Indiana Wesleyan.

While her announcement comes a day after the Bulldogs parted ways with women's basketball coach Austin Parkinson, the Warsaw standout told IndyStar Tuesday afternoon that the coaching change did not influence her decision, which was finalized over two weeks ago.

Instead, her decision was largely influenced by the nomadic nature of the transfer portal.

"Two-and-a-half weeks ago, we started noticing some of the Butler players were entering the transfer portal and honestly, the ones leaving were the ones I was really looking forward to playing with," Bricker said. "They were a big reason I wanted to go there. They're great people and I wanted to be around them, to be teammates with them. And I've always really valued the relationship side of it, so I really cared about that and who I would be playing with."

Following a conversation with one of the departing players, Bricker realized what she envisioned for her D-I basketball experience — one in which she could build lifelong relationships with her teammates and coaches — wasn't feasible in the current NCAA landscape with the transfer portal causing widespread roster turnover after each season. (There are currently over 1,000 players in the portal, which opened Monday.)

It's disappointing, Bricker said, and was difficult to accept. She had a good relationship with Parkinson and his staff and was "really excited about Butler as a school," which she branded her dream school growing up. Bricker committed to Butler last June, choosing Parkinson's Bulldogs over Belmont, Ball State, Penn and Florida Gulf Coast, among others.

"I'd heard nothing but great things about (Butler) and did feel like it was a great fit," she continued. "But it's not what I signed up for; not what I thought it would be. And it's not just Butler. It's everywhere."

Following a lot of prayer and conversations with her parents, Bricker shifted her commitment from Butler to Indiana Wesleyan, which was one of the first programs to recruit her.

"They're a great program and I feel like I'm going to be able to compete for championships there and grow in my faith, which is so important to me, and I'm going to be surrounded by great people," Bricker said. "It's going to be more consistent and stable. I want to be somewhere that I'll be for four years, where I'll have a great career and have lifelong friends, great relationships with my teammates and coaches. That's why I felt Indiana Wesleyan would be a great fit for me and aligns with what I value most."

Bricker said her parents were "amazing" supporters through the process, helping her keep a level-head and realize that while others may have their own opinions, it's her life.

"Playing Division I basketball looks cool; going to the Big East, going to Butler, that's awesome, but ultimately, I'm the one who has to live it out," she continued. "I had to do what's best for me and they supported me 100% with that and they know Indiana Wesleyan is going to be a great fit."

It goes without saying, but Bricker is a massive get for IWU, which finished 19-14 and reached the Round of 16 in the NAIA tournament.

The high-scoring sharpshooter amassed a program-record 1,859 points in four varsity seasons, with career shooting rates of 54% from the field, 44% from 3 (164 makes) and 80% at the free throw line. She helped Warsaw to a Class 4A state runner-up finish as a junior and rounded out her career line with 481 rebounds, 321 assists and 216 steals.

Isolated to her senior season, Bricker averaged 24.8 points on 55% shooting (53% 3FG, 84% FT), 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.4 steals for the 24-3 Tigers. She was recognized for her efforts with Supreme 15 all-state honors and named an Indiana All-Star.

Bricker is the sixth incoming freshman for IWU, joining Homestead's Whitney Ankenbruck and Carley Moellering — two of her longtime friends — Bremen's Emma Kincaid, Norwell's Vanessa Rosswurm (a fellow Indiana All-Star) and Crawford County's Emery Stroud.

"I'm so excited to play with them," said Bricker, who has already been to Marion for an open gym. "They're great players, but they're great people, too, and I know I'm going to grow a lot and have lifelong friends, so I'm really excited about that. ... I'm at peace with (my decision). I feel really good and thankful about it."

As for Butler, it now has three 2026 recruits according to PrepGirlsHoops, including Lapel forward Laniah Wills. The Dawgs currently have six players in the portal: Freshmen Addi Baxter, a Columbia City grad, and Anna Wypych, redshirt freshman Mckenzie Swanson, sophomore Lily Zeinstra and redshirt sophomore Mallory Miller.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Warsaw's Joslyn Bricker flips commitment from Butler to Indiana Wesleyan