UTSA senior forward Elyssa Coleman announced her medical retirement from basketball in May, marking the end of a remarkable collegiate career for the women’s basketball player from Houston, Texas. After multiple ACL reconstruction surgeries and ongoing complications, Coleman decided it was time to step away from the sport she had excelled in for years. Her departure will leave a significant void in the team, given her contributions and leadership both on and off the court.
In the 2023-2024 season, Coleman played an instrumental role in leading the Roadrunners to their first-ever postseason victory, an 80-62 win over the Northern Colorado Bears in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. Throughout that season, she averaged 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and became the Roadrunners’ all-time leader in blocked shots, totaling 140 over her career.
Over her three-season tenure at UTSA, Coleman achieved numerous accolades. She played in 94 games, starting in 78 of them and accumulated 588 rebounds, placing her ninth in the school’s history. Despite missing her freshman year due to injury, she quickly made up for lost time, earning honors such as being named to the Conference USA All-Defensive Team, being a two-time recipient of the Conference USA Freshman of the Week award and being named to the AAC All-Tournament Team in her final season.
With Coleman’s departure, UTSA faces the challenge of filling the void left by her absence. Sophomore forward Idara Udo and senior forward Jordyn Jenkins are key players expected to step up. Udo, who averaged 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in her freshman season, also showed promise as the team’s defensive anchor alongside Coleman. Her development will be crucial to maintaining the same defense that stymied opposing teams last season and ranked near the top of the American Athletic Conference.
Jenkins, returning for her final season, will also need to continue shouldering the load as the team’s leader on the court. Despite missing a portion of the season due to an offseason injury, Jenkins still averaged an impressive 17.1 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game and 1.1 blocks per game and was a major factor in the team’s run in the conference and WNIT tournaments. A completely healthy and driven Jenkins will undoubtedly be a formidable force and a key player for the Roadrunners.
Despite the loss of Coleman, the future of UTSA women’s basketball remains promising. With coach Karen Aston at the helm, the Roadrunners have seen recent postseason success and have promising recruits joining the squad, indicating that the team is well-positioned to continue its upward trajectory. The experience gained by the returning players in the WNIT will also be invaluable as they aim for more success in the AAC.
Elyssa Coleman’s legacy at UTSA is cemented not just by her records, but by the resilience and determination she demonstrated throughout her career. While her medical retirement marks the end of an era, it also serves as a reminder of the impact a dedicated and talented player can have on a program. The Roadrunners will surely feel her absence, but with a strong foundation and emerging leaders, the team is poised to build on the momentum she helped create.
