Panthers Add Transfer Forward Khadija Faye
5/6/2024 10:31:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – University of Pittsburgh women's basketball head coach Tory Verdi announced the signing of Texas transfer Khadija Faye Monday morning. Faye joins the Panther program with one year of eligibility remaining after compiling 602 points, 495 rebounds, 97 blocks in 103 games at Texas (2022-24) and Texas Tech (2020-22).
"Khadija is an experienced and talented post player who will make an immediate impact in our program," said Verdi. "She can impact the game with her scoring efficiency, her rebounding effort on both ends of the floor, and her physicality in the lane. Khadija will be a key player for us on the court and in the locker room. I look forward to working with her this season and seeing her excel in our system."
Faye averaged 5.7 points and 4.4 rebounds, while shooting 52.7 percent (127-of-241) from the field, in 13.7 minutes per game over two seasons with the Longhorns. She scored in double figures 13 times and had six double-doubles, while helping Texas to a 59-15 record and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances over the past two seasons. Faye delivered 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in just 12.2 minutes per game for a Longhorn team that reached the 2024 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.
A native of Dakar, Senegal, Faye played in 38 career games (24 starts) and recorded 229 points (6.0 ppg.), 210 rebounds (5.5 rpg.) and 44 blocks (1.2 bpg.) in 650 minutes (17.1 mpg.) during her two seasons at Texas Tech.
Faye played her senior season at Father Lopez Catholic High School in Daytona Beach, Fla., helping the Green Wave to a 26-3 record and a trip to the Class 3A state quarterfinals. She was ranked as the No. 13 center in the class of 2020 by ESPN after averaging 22.3 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.4 blocks, and 3.3 steals per game at Father Lopez. She was also selected as the News-Journal Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Pitt's newest transfer addition also has international experience playing for Senegal at the 2020 FIBA U18 Women African Championship. She averaged 11.3 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game, including a 14-point, 15-rebound effort against Egypt to open the event. Faye also helped lead Senegal to a gold medal at the 2023 Prancophone Games where she totaled 20 points, nine rebounds, four steals, and two blocked shots in a game.
Faye is the third transfer portal addition for the Panthers joining MaKayla Elmore (Clemson) and Mikayla Johnson (Colorado).