University of Richmond Athletics
Women’s Basketball Signs Five Spiders for 2026-27
11/13/2025 | Women's Basketball
Five-player class features ESPN Top 100 guard and all-state standouts from four states
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond women's basketball team unveiled its 2026 signing class Thursday as five future Spiders officially committed to the program in Erica Gribble, Josie Fontana, Lyla Coogen, Bridget Rifenburg and Kate Schindler.
"This was a very important recruiting class for us and we came through in a big way," Head Coach Aaron Roussell said. "Our assistant coaches worked tirelessly and their efforts will be appreciated by all Spider fans when they see this group in action over the next few years. This is a group that we will rely on heavily early in their career and I am confident they are ready to make a huge impact for us."
Gribble, a Pittsburgh, Pa. native, signs with Richmond as one of the top guards in the 2026 class. She is ranked No. 80 in the ESPN Top 100 and shined on the Under Armour Circuit as the No. 2 Most Accurate Three-Point Shooter and No. 4 Most Efficient Scorer in 2025. A two-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Player of the Year, Gribble earned First Team All-State honors in both 2A and 3A and competed in the 2025 Under Armour Future 60.
"Erica has an exceptional IQ and feel for the game," Roussell said. "She has excelled at the highest of levels and will make an immediate impact when she arrives on campus. She can score at a high level but also has an elite ability to create for others."
Fontana, also from Pittsburgh, joins the Spiders from Oakland Catholic HS and the SLAAM program. She helped lead Oakland Catholic to a WPIAL championship and earned All-State and All-WPIAL honors while establishing herself as one of the top forwards in the region.
"Josie is a hard-nosed player with a work ethic that is immediately noticed by everyone who watches her," Roussell said. "She plays hard, is a great athlete and is also highly skilled, especially at her size and position. She is ready now but we see limitless potential for her down the road."
Coogen comes to Richmond from Arlington, Va. after a standout career at St. James Academy and with Team Durant. She was named Second Team All-State and WCAC Honorable Mention and also received the St. John's Presidential Leadership Award. Her combination of size, shooting and versatility adds another dynamic perimeter threat to the class.
"Lyla's size and length stand out to others, but her shooting prowess and feel for the game are what make her a natural fit for us," Roussell said. "She already has the skill set to stand out in our system and we know she will only continue to get better in our program."
Rifenburg, a product of Downers Grove, Ill., signs with Richmond after starring at Benet Academy, one of the state's top programs. She earned IHSA All-State honors, was named IBCA Special Mention All-State and collected Naperville Sun All-Area and ESCC All-Conference recognition. Known for her toughness and multi-positional ability, she brings immediate versatility to the Spider lineup.
"Bridget is a great athlete that will be able to play and defend multiple positions immediately," Roussell said. "She finishes very well around the rim and has a toughness that will shine in our program."
Schindler rounds out the class from Waxhaw, N.C., where she excelled at Marvin Ridge HS and with Elevate Elite. She was named SCC Player of the Year, First Team All-SCC and Union County Hoops Player of the Year, and she set the Union County single-game scoring record with 58 points. Her length and scoring ability make her one of the most dynamic guards in North Carolina.
"Kate is incredibly skilled and as the numbers tell you, she is a very gifted scorer and can do so from all over the court," Roussell said. "She is an exceptional shooter and her length as a guard will allow us to use her in many ways."
"I am very grateful for our staff and the work they put into assembling this high-level class," Roussell added. "We will lose some great players at the end of this season, but the future of Spider Basketball is very bright."
"This was a very important recruiting class for us and we came through in a big way," Head Coach Aaron Roussell said. "Our assistant coaches worked tirelessly and their efforts will be appreciated by all Spider fans when they see this group in action over the next few years. This is a group that we will rely on heavily early in their career and I am confident they are ready to make a huge impact for us."
Gribble, a Pittsburgh, Pa. native, signs with Richmond as one of the top guards in the 2026 class. She is ranked No. 80 in the ESPN Top 100 and shined on the Under Armour Circuit as the No. 2 Most Accurate Three-Point Shooter and No. 4 Most Efficient Scorer in 2025. A two-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Player of the Year, Gribble earned First Team All-State honors in both 2A and 3A and competed in the 2025 Under Armour Future 60.
"Erica has an exceptional IQ and feel for the game," Roussell said. "She has excelled at the highest of levels and will make an immediate impact when she arrives on campus. She can score at a high level but also has an elite ability to create for others."
Fontana, also from Pittsburgh, joins the Spiders from Oakland Catholic HS and the SLAAM program. She helped lead Oakland Catholic to a WPIAL championship and earned All-State and All-WPIAL honors while establishing herself as one of the top forwards in the region.
"Josie is a hard-nosed player with a work ethic that is immediately noticed by everyone who watches her," Roussell said. "She plays hard, is a great athlete and is also highly skilled, especially at her size and position. She is ready now but we see limitless potential for her down the road."
Coogen comes to Richmond from Arlington, Va. after a standout career at St. James Academy and with Team Durant. She was named Second Team All-State and WCAC Honorable Mention and also received the St. John's Presidential Leadership Award. Her combination of size, shooting and versatility adds another dynamic perimeter threat to the class.
"Lyla's size and length stand out to others, but her shooting prowess and feel for the game are what make her a natural fit for us," Roussell said. "She already has the skill set to stand out in our system and we know she will only continue to get better in our program."
Rifenburg, a product of Downers Grove, Ill., signs with Richmond after starring at Benet Academy, one of the state's top programs. She earned IHSA All-State honors, was named IBCA Special Mention All-State and collected Naperville Sun All-Area and ESCC All-Conference recognition. Known for her toughness and multi-positional ability, she brings immediate versatility to the Spider lineup.
"Bridget is a great athlete that will be able to play and defend multiple positions immediately," Roussell said. "She finishes very well around the rim and has a toughness that will shine in our program."
Schindler rounds out the class from Waxhaw, N.C., where she excelled at Marvin Ridge HS and with Elevate Elite. She was named SCC Player of the Year, First Team All-SCC and Union County Hoops Player of the Year, and she set the Union County single-game scoring record with 58 points. Her length and scoring ability make her one of the most dynamic guards in North Carolina.
"Kate is incredibly skilled and as the numbers tell you, she is a very gifted scorer and can do so from all over the court," Roussell said. "She is an exceptional shooter and her length as a guard will allow us to use her in many ways."
"I am very grateful for our staff and the work they put into assembling this high-level class," Roussell added. "We will lose some great players at the end of this season, but the future of Spider Basketball is very bright."
Erica Gribble – Pittsburgh, Pa. – Greensburg Central Catholic / Comets
- ESPN Top 100 recruit (No. 80 in the class of 2026)
- 2025 Under Armour Circuit No. 2 Most Accurate Three-Point Shooter
- 2025 Under Armour Circuit No. 4 Most Efficient Scorer
- 2025 Under Armour Future 60 selection
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2A Player of the Year (2024)
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 3A Player of the Year (2025)
- First Team All-State Pennsylvania 2A (2024)
- First Team All-State Pennsylvania 3A (2025)
Josie Fontana – Pittsburgh, Pa. – Oakland Catholic HS / SLAAM
- WPIAL champion
- Pennsylvania All-State selection
- All-WPIAL honoree
Lyla Coogen – Arlington, Va. – St. James Academy / Team Durant
- Second Team All-State
- WCAC Honorable Mention
- St. John's Presidential Leadership Award recipient
Bridget Rifenburg – Downers Grove, Ill. – Benet Academy / Wolverinas
- IHSA Illinois All-State
- IBCA All-State Special Mention
- Naperville Sun All-Area
- ESCC All-Conference
Kate Schindler – Waxhaw, N.C. – Marvin Ridge HS / Elevate Elite
- SCC Player of the Year
- First Team All-SCC
- Union County Hoops Player of the Year
- Union County single-game scoring record holder (58 points)
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