Oregon women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves revealed on Wednesday that Alexis Whitfield, a standout forward from UC Santa Barbara and previously Washington, has joined the team. Whitfield, hailing from West Hills, Calif., emerged as a force during the 2023-24 season, ranking among the top players in the Big West conference with impressive scoring and rebounding stats.
Standing at 6-foot-2, Whitfield showcased her prowess by averaging 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 46.0 percent from the field. Her consistent performance included 21 double-digit scoring games and 10 double-doubles over 31 appearances for UC Santa Barbara. Notably, Whitfield recorded a career-best 30 points and 17 rebounds in a standout performance during the Big West Tournament. Despite facing setbacks due to injury during her time at Washington, Whitfield has amassed a commendable collegiate career, totaling 769 points and 512 rebounds across four seasons.
Hailing from Chaminade College Prep in West Hills, Calif., Whitfield was highly regarded as the No. 61 overall recruit and No. 15 forward in ESPN’s 2020 class rankings. Her high school career was marked by impressive accolades, including three selections to the all-CIF Southern Section first team and being named the 2019 SS Player of the Year. Notably, she was also among the nominees for the prestigious Los Angeles Girls Basketball Player of the Year award after her senior season.
As she prepares for the 2024-25 season, Whitfield will be transitioning as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining, bringing her talent and experience to the Oregon team.
Alexis Whitfield >> 6-2, Forward, West Hills, Calif.
After spending two seasons at UC Santa Barbara and prior to that, two seasons at Washington, Whitfield made significant strides in her basketball career. At UC Santa Barbara during the 2023-24 season, she solidified her position as a top player in the Big West conference, earning an all-Big West first-team selection. Her dominance was evident, leading the conference in rebounding with 9.8 rebounds per game and ranking second in scoring with 15.1 points per game, alongside an impressive 46.0 percent field goal percentage. Throughout the season, she was recognized three times as the Big West Player of the Week and started in all 31 games, showcasing her consistency and leadership by scoring in double figures 21 times, including 10 games with 20 or more points. Notably, she achieved a career-high 30 points against Long Beach State in the Big West Tournament and grabbed a career-best 19 rebounds against Hawai’i.
During her junior year at UC Santa Barbara in 2022-23, Whitfield continued to contribute, appearing in 31 games and averaging 5.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. She displayed versatility with seven double-figure scoring outings and notable performances such as scoring a season-high 17 points against UC Irvine and securing a season-best 13 rebounds against UC Riverside.
Her collegiate journey began at Washington, where she appeared in 33 games over two seasons, averaging 3.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Despite facing injury setbacks, she showcased her potential with two double-digit scoring efforts, including a 12-point game against BYU during her freshman year.
Before her college career, Whitfield’s talent was evident during her high school days at Chaminade College Prep in West Hills, Calif. ESPN recognized her as the No. 61 overall recruit and No. 15 forward in the 2020 class. She earned numerous accolades, including being a three-time All-CIF Southern Section first-team selection and the 2019 SS Player of the Year. Additionally, she was among the nominees for the highly coveted Los Angeles Girls Basketball Player of the Year award. In her junior year of high school, she garnered attention by averaging 16.8 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.1 steals per game, earning her Division I CIF Southern Sectional player-of-the-year honors.
