Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year Gregory Signs with Liberty
4/17/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – 2025-26 Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year Sophia Gregory has signed with the Liberty women's basketball team for the 2026-27 academic year.
Gregory, who spent her freshman and sophomore seasons at Youngstown State, becomes the fifth newcomer who will join the Lady Flames this fall. She joins incoming freshmen Peace Ashina (G, 6-0, Snellville, Ga.), Trinity Holsinger (G, 5-7, Eagle, Idaho), Kendyl Smith (G, 5-9, Flint, Mich.) and Amari Worsham (G, 6-0, Roanoke, Va.).
Sophia Gregory (F, 6-2, Alliance, Ohio)
Gregory was one of the Horizon League's top all-around performers in 2025-26, earning Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and second team all-conference distinction. She averaged 10.5 ppg while topping the league in rebounding (8.7 rpg) and ranking No. 7 in assists (3.0 apg), No. 2 in blocked shots (1.5 bpg) and No. 8 in steals (1.7 spg).
Gregory helped the 25-10 Penguins reach the Horizon League title game and the WNIT Super 16, garnering Horizon League All-Tournament Team honors. Her regular season featured a 37-point, 19-rebound outburst during a win at Purdue Fort Wayne.
During the 2024-25 season, Gregory tallied 10.2 ppg and 7.9 rpg to become Horizon League Freshman of the Year. She also recorded a Youngstown State freshman-record 33 blocked shots.
The finance major has excelled in the classroom, being named to the CSC Academic All-District Team and Academic All-Horizon League Team as a sophomore.
Gregory was an Ohio Division II second team all-state performer as a senior at West Branch High School. She posted 16.0 ppg, 4.8 apg. 3.0 spg and 2.0 bpg during her senior campaign, shooting a school-record 69.3 percent from the field.
Gregory finished her high school career ranked fourth in West Branch history in points (1,135), eighth in rebounds (655), fifth in assists (361) and third in steals (252).
What They're Saying About Sophia Gregory
"We're excited to welcome Sophia Gregory to our program. She's a versatile, positionless player at 6-2 who impacts the game on both ends. She led her previous team in assists and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore after being named Freshman of the Year the previous season. Even more importantly, Sophia is a strong believer whose values align with what we stand for at Liberty. She's a high-character young woman, and we're thrilled to have her join our family."
Alexis Sherard, Liberty Women's Basketball Head Coach
Gregory, who spent her freshman and sophomore seasons at Youngstown State, becomes the fifth newcomer who will join the Lady Flames this fall. She joins incoming freshmen Peace Ashina (G, 6-0, Snellville, Ga.), Trinity Holsinger (G, 5-7, Eagle, Idaho), Kendyl Smith (G, 5-9, Flint, Mich.) and Amari Worsham (G, 6-0, Roanoke, Va.).
Sophia Gregory (F, 6-2, Alliance, Ohio)
Gregory was one of the Horizon League's top all-around performers in 2025-26, earning Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and second team all-conference distinction. She averaged 10.5 ppg while topping the league in rebounding (8.7 rpg) and ranking No. 7 in assists (3.0 apg), No. 2 in blocked shots (1.5 bpg) and No. 8 in steals (1.7 spg).
Gregory helped the 25-10 Penguins reach the Horizon League title game and the WNIT Super 16, garnering Horizon League All-Tournament Team honors. Her regular season featured a 37-point, 19-rebound outburst during a win at Purdue Fort Wayne.
During the 2024-25 season, Gregory tallied 10.2 ppg and 7.9 rpg to become Horizon League Freshman of the Year. She also recorded a Youngstown State freshman-record 33 blocked shots.
The finance major has excelled in the classroom, being named to the CSC Academic All-District Team and Academic All-Horizon League Team as a sophomore.
Gregory was an Ohio Division II second team all-state performer as a senior at West Branch High School. She posted 16.0 ppg, 4.8 apg. 3.0 spg and 2.0 bpg during her senior campaign, shooting a school-record 69.3 percent from the field.
Gregory finished her high school career ranked fourth in West Branch history in points (1,135), eighth in rebounds (655), fifth in assists (361) and third in steals (252).
What They're Saying About Sophia Gregory
"We're excited to welcome Sophia Gregory to our program. She's a versatile, positionless player at 6-2 who impacts the game on both ends. She led her previous team in assists and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore after being named Freshman of the Year the previous season. Even more importantly, Sophia is a strong believer whose values align with what we stand for at Liberty. She's a high-character young woman, and we're thrilled to have her join our family."
Alexis Sherard, Liberty Women's Basketball Head Coach
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