Syracuse women's basketball announced another addition to its roster for the upcoming season on Thursday.
Per a release, 5-foot-10 Elif Çayir, a native of Ankara, Turkey, has transferred to the Orange. A huge welcome from 'Cuse Nation to Elif!
Most recently, the 20-year-old Çayir spent four seasons playing for Nesibe Aydin in Turkey's Halkbank Women's Basketball Super League. According to the statement from SU Athletics, during her time playing for Nesibe Aydin, Çayir appeared in 33 games, shot 40.0 percent from the field, grabbed 44 rebounds and tallied a dozen assists.
These days, college basketball programs on both the women's and men's sides are turning more and more to international markets for roster additions. Syracuse women's basketball center Uche Izoje, the Orange's freshman phenom in the 2025-26 campaign, hails from Nigeria.
Syracuse women's basketball eyes another NCAA Tournament bid this coming season.
SU's transfer class for the upcoming 2026-27 stanza, beyond Çayir, includes Iowa sophomore wing Emely Rodriguez, Temple junior forward Jaleesa Molina, SMU graduate student guard Tyi Skinner and Oregon junior forward Sarah Rambus.
The 'Cuse, under head coach Felisha Legette-Jack, also brings in two excellent freshmen, both from New York state. They are forward Destiny Robinson of St. Mary's College Preparatory High School in Manhasset, N.Y., and guard Madison Howard of Monsignor Scanlan High School in the Bronx, N.Y.
In 2025-26, Syracuse women's basketball went 24-9 overall, exceeding expectations from national and Atlantic Coast Conference observers. The 'Cuse was forecast to finish at No. 13 in the ACC but ultimately tied for No. 5 in the league standings.
The Orange made the 2026 Big Dance, falling as a No. 9 seed in the second round to No. 1 seed Connecticut. Key returnees for SU in the upcoming campaign include Izoje and junior wing Shy Hawkins.
The 6-foot-3 Izoje put forth one of the best freshman seasons in Syracuse women's basketball history. She averaged 15.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals and an ACC-leading 2.6 blocks per contest while making 55.4 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Izoje was named the ACC rookie of the year, and deservingly so. She also resided on the All-ACC first team, the league's All-Defensive squad and the conference's All-Freshman team.
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