Photo courtesy of gobonnies.com
BY: AIDAN SHINNERS; SPORTS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
The 2026-27 St. Bonaventure University women’s basketball team features six new players, but two transfers arrive with an on-court connection that stretches back several years.
Junior forward Jordyn Williams and sophomore forward Kyla Hayes played together at Cardinal O’Hara High School in Buffalo, New York, from 2021-24. Hayes said playing together helped them learn each other’s strengths and how to take advantage of them on the floor.
“Jordyn’s game is very defensively sound, and my game is very offensively sound,” Hayes said. “We have that chemistry where I know what Jordyn’s good at and she knows what I’m good at.”
Williams attributed the energy the two of them bring to the court for their chemistry.
“Being on different teams together, and basically growing up together, we’re able to feed off each other’s energy.” Williams said.
Williams’ path to Bonaventure follows a similar trajectory to women’s basketball assistant coach Aaliyah Parker. Both graduated from Cardinal O’Hara and started their Division I journeys at Niagara University before becoming Bonnies. Williams said Parker was influential in her decision to transfer to St. Bonaventure.
“I’m a homebody, and Bonaventure is a little further for me than I’m used to,” Williams said. “Seeing a familiar face and somebody who can introduce me to the program was something that definitely pushed me to come here.”
Parker led Bonaventure in steals last season. Williams, who led the Purple Eagles in steals last year, will look to make up for that loss of production from Parker.
Hayes, a transfer from St. John’s University, appeared in 13 games her freshman season. Despite the reduced minutes, Hayes said her time at St. John’s made her a better player and makes her want to succeed even more.
“It was just adversity. I think that just made me into a better player,” Hayes said. “That adversity is pushing me to work harder and want to do more and produce more this season.”
Hayes said her decision to join Bonaventure’s program came down to her desire for a change of scenery and mutual trust with the coaching staff.
“I think that after my freshman year, I just needed a change of scenery,” Hayes said. “I needed somewhere where I felt like the coaches trusted me and I trusted the coaches as well, and I feel like I found that at St. Bonaventure.”
In her senior season at Cardinal O’Hara, Hayes averaged 28.8 points per game. Hayes said she hopes to help fill the scoring void left by Laycee Drake, Bonaventure’s leading scorer last season.
“Scoring is my game. It’s something I definitely want to contribute to this team,” Hayes said. “I’m here to do whatever I can to help the team win, and I think my scoring will make an impact this year.”
Bonaventure averaged almost five fewer rebounds per game than its opponents during A-10 play. Williams mentioned Cardinal O’Hara coach Nick O’Neil emphasized rebounding in high school, a lesson she hopes to carry over to Bonaventure.
“Coach Nick always really harped on rebounds, so that’s something that’s within us,” Williams said. “We’re going to get up there, and we’re going to get the ball.”
Hayes also encouraged students and fans to support the Bonnies throughout the upcoming season.
“There’s a lot of exciting things happening this year in St. Bonaventure women’s basketball,” Hayes said. “We’d love to see everyone there supporting us.”
The Bonnies face Robert Morris University in an exhibition game on Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
