What Emily McDonald's commitment means for Kentucky WBB

Kenny Brooks and the staff just went out on the recruiting trail and got their third commitment of the 2026 class, this time from four-star guard Emily McDonald. She joins five-stars Maddyn Greenway and Savvy Swords in the class.

Just as we did with those two (READ: Greenway, Swords), we’re going to break down what McDonald’s commitment means for the trajectory of the Kentucky women’s basketball program.

Kenny Brooks has brought in the best class in 2026

According to Rivals’ recruiting rankings, Kentucky now has three top 40 commitments (No. 9, No. 10, No. 36), and according to ESPN’s rankings, Kentucky now has three top 25 commits (No. 13, No. 19, No. 23). No other team has more than one Top 25 commit (other than Notre Dame with two on Rivals) on either service.

Point being? Kenny Brooks has reeled in the undisputed best recruiting class in the class of 2026 thus far. Ain’t even close, either. The staff has struck the iron while it’s hot and its paid dividends.

Kentucky just went being a bottom-feeder to a great white shark on the recruiting trail.

The foundation is set for the next four years

With those three commits as well as freshman Kaelyn Carroll, the foundation for the near future has been set.

In this modern era of teams trying to get the best of the best in the transfer portal, Kentucky has the extreme luxury of not only being able to develop talent in-house, but they’re all top 40 recruits with limitless talent.

Kentucky is about to become a WNBA factory it seems. Brooks’ ability to turn meek and mild freshmen into top 10 WNBA draft picks has earned him quite the reputation, and the nation’s top recruits are seeing that.

Programs are terrified to be in a recruiting battle with Kentucky

This ain’t the old Kentucky anymore. When Kenny Brooks and this staff zero in on a recruit, they can compete for anyone out there. There used to just be a handful of programs in that stratosphere. Kentucky’s in that mix now.

Brooks has often spoken about “getting in the door” for the top prospects in the country. Two years ago, if Kentucky were to call the No. 1 recruit in the country, they’d look at the phone, laugh to themselves, then proceed with their day. Now, Kentucky is beating out national champion programs for prized recruits.

It’s absolutely remarkable what Brooks and the staff have done since arriving in Lexington. When you let Kenny cook, typically, a masterpiece comes out on the other side.

Rundown of prospects offered by Kentucky

2026

• 5-star post Olivia Vukosa – No. 3 overall, No. 1 post – Christ the King (FL) – Missed top 5
• 5-star point guard Kate Harpring – No. 4 overall, No. 1 point guard – Marist (GA) – Committed to North Carolina
• 5-star guard Trinity Jones – No. 11 overall, No. 4 guard – Bolingbrook (IL)
• 5-star point guard Maddyn Greenway – No. 13 overall, No. 3 point guard – Providence Academy (MN) – Committed to Kentucky
• 5-star guard Bella Flemings – No. 16 overall, No. 6 guard – Brennan (TX) – Missed top 5
• 4-star wing Savvy Swords – No. 19 overall, No. 5 wing – Long Island Lutheran (NY) – Committed to Kentucky
• 4-star guard Emily McDonald – No. 23 overall, No. 8 guard – Long Island Lutheran (NY) – Committed to Kentucky
• 4-star guard Jenica Lewis – No. 24 overall, No. 10 guard – Johnston (IA) – Missed top 5
• 4-star guard Sanai Green – No. 25 overall, No. 11 guard – Long Island Lutheran (NY) – Committed to Duke
• 4-star wing Bella Ragone – No. 30 overall, No. 9 wing – Mill Creek (GA) – Committed to Notre Dame
• 4-star forward Amari Byles – No. 37 overall, No. 7 forward – DeSoto (TX)
• 4-star forward Kamora Pruitt – No. 38 overall, No. 8 forward – Legion Prep Academy (TX) – Missed top 5
• 4-star forward Mimi Thiero – No. 42 overall, No. 10 forward – Quaker Valley (PA) – Committed to Maryland
• 4-star guard Whitley Rogers – No. 49 overall, No. 18 guard – Little Rock Christian Academy (AR) – Missed top 5

2027

• 5-star guard Ivanna Wilson Manyacka – No. 2 overall, No. 1 guard – Bullis (MD)
• 5-star post Caroline Bradley – No. 3 overall, No. 1 post – Oak Grove (LA)
• 5-star guard Haylen Ayers – No. 5 overall, No. 2 guard – University School of Jackson (TN)
• 5-star wing Jordyn Palmer – No. 6 overall, No. 1 wing – Westtown (PA)
• 5-star wing Micah Ojo – No. 7 overall, No. 2 wing – Princess Anne (VA)
• 5-star guard Sydney Savoury – No. 9 overall, No. 3 guard – Belleville (MI)
• 4-star point guard De’Andra Minor – No. 17 overall, No. 3 point guard – Grind Prep Academy (OK)
• 4-star forward Sydney Mobley – No. 21 overall, No. 4 forward – Big Walnut (OH)
• 4-star guard Madeline Mignery – No. 40 overall, No. 15 guard – Cardinal Mooney (FL)
• Forward Isabella Marion – Unranked (international) – Denmark

2028

• 4-star forward Sydney Douglas – No. 2 overall, No. 1 forward – Centennial (CA)
• 4-star point guard Chloe Johnson – No. 3 overall, No. 1 point guard – Marshall (MN)
• 4-star wing Ella Peper – No. 4 overall, No. 1 wing – Dexter Southfield (MA)
• 4-star guard Dakhari Blankumsee – No. 9 overall, No. 4 guard – Winton Woods (OH)
• 4-star guard Janiyah Hargrave – No. 15 overall, No. 8 guard – Fairmont (OH)
• 4-star guard Erin Thomas – No. 21 overall, No. 11 guard – Princeton (OH)
• 4-star guard Jhaliana Guy – No. 22 overall, No. 12 guard – Bettendorf (IA) – Committed to Stanford
• 4-star point guard Easton McCollough – Unranked – Farmington (AR)

2029

• Center Jayden McClain – Unranked (no rankings for 2029 yet) – Ryle (KY)
• Wing Carib Morris – Unranked (no rankings for 2029 yet) – Cresset Christian Academy (NC)

(via ESPN’s SportsCenter NEXT Rankings)