CHICAGO – Loyola University Chicago women's basketball Head Coach Allison Guth has announced the addition of five student-athletes to the 2025-26 roster.
Freshmen Alex-Anne Bessette and Nevaeh Dickman, along with transfers Alexus Mobley, Brook Simpson, and Clara Djoko joined the program this summer.
Three-time All-Canadian and AmeriCup silver medalist Bessette recently helped Team Canada capture silver at the 2024 FIBA U18 Women's Americas Championship in Colombia. The 6-foot-2 prospect led her prep team to the 2025 OSBA Championship, earning Second Team All-Star honors after a standout showing in the title game. A native of Quebec City, Bessette played in the AAU circuit with Kia Nurse EYBL, one of North America's premier programs.
"Alex is an exciting addition to our program," said Guth. "She has had an impressive career thus far and will immediately impact us with her opportunity to contribute with her extreme versatility. Alex is a skilled point forward who is crafty and can score it in a variety of ways. Her basketball IQ allows her to create opportunities for her teammates to succeed on both ends of the floor. We are eager for her to utilize her ability to run our offense, rebound the basketball, and defend with tenacity and competitiveness. We are jazzed that we can welcome Alex and the entire Bessette family to Rambler Nation."
Simpson, a redshirt freshman, heads to Rogers Park after a one-year stint at Bowling Green where she saw action against Southern Mississippi and at Detroit Mercy. The 5-foot-11 guard from Saugatuck, Mich., averaged 17.5 points, three rebounds, 3.25 assists, 3.7 steals, and five blocks per game (22 total) in her lone season at Saugatuck High School after transferring from Belding. She earned all-state honors and was named The Holland Sentinel Defensive Player of the Year in 2023-24.
"Brook is a tremendous addition to our program. She will immediately impact us with her motor, her basketball IQ, and her ability to score the ball. Brook is a highly skilled point guard who values setting the table while also being a multi-level scorer. She defends with integrity and has athleticism and a skill set that are special. We are eager to utilize her ability to put the ball in the hoop, create opportunities for her teammates, and defend with tenacity and competitiveness. We are thrilled to welcome Brook and the entire Simpson family to Rambler Nation."
Mobley, who hails from Indianapolis, Ind., is a 5-foot-7 guard who most recently played two seasons at Akron after previously playing two at Danville Community College. The incoming graduate student started 38 games with the Zips, averaging 9.2 points, 1.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. Mobley posted a career-high 30 points in Akron's 80-52 win over Miami-Hamilton on Dec. 28, 2024, going 11-of-17 from the field, 2-of-4 from deep, and a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. She also grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds versus Arkansas State on Feb. 10, 2024.
"Alexus is a dynamic addition to our program. She had both an impressive high school and collegiate career, most recently coming from Akron. Alexus will immediately impact us with her motor, her feel for the game, her defensive talent, and her craftiness off the bounce. Alexus is a skilled basketball player who values rebounding and is a multi-level scorer. We are eager to utilize her ability to put the ball in the hoop, create opportunities for her teammates, and defend with tenacity and competitiveness. We are thrilled to welcome Alexus and the entire Mobley family to Rambler Nation."
Dickman, a 6-foot power forward from Fishers, Ind., joins LUC as a highly regarded recruit. She holds a 247Sports rating of 89, earning her three-star prospect status. According to the publication, Dickman ranks as the No. 6 recruit in Indiana, the No. 104 prospect nationally, and the No. 23 power forward in her class. Dickman was named to the 2024–25 Hamilton County Reporter Girls' Basketball All-County First Team and earned ICGSA Academic All-State Honorable Mention honors for her achievements both on the court and in the classroom. She also secured spots on the 2024–25 ICGSA All-State First Team and the IBCA Senior Large School All-State list. Additionally, she was selected as one of the Hoosier Basketball Magazine Class of 2025 Top 60 Senior Girls and received 2024–25 HCC First Team All-Conference recognition.
"Nevaeh is an incredibly exciting addition to our program. She's had an impressive high school career and will make an immediate impact with her versatility. Nevaeh is a skilled, crafty player who can score in a variety of ways. Her high basketball IQ allows her to create opportunities for her teammates on both ends of the floor. We're eager to see her ability to alter opponents' shots, rebound effectively, and convert offensive opportunities in action. We're thrilled to welcome Nevaeh and the entire Dickman family to Rambler Nation."
Djoko, a 6-foot forward from Entzheim, France, has been a steady contributor for UC Irvine over her first two seasons. In 2024-25, she appeared in 24 games, averaging 0.3 points and 0.9 rebounds in 2.9 minutes per contest. She recorded a season-high four rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 5 and added two steals and two rebounds at CSUN on Feb. 20. In 2023-24, Djoko played in 31 of 32 games and started the first 15 of her collegiate career. She averaged 0.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game, with season highlights including four points, three rebounds, and two blocks at Texas Tech on Nov. 29, and three steals in back-to-back games against Seattle U on Nov. 11 and Saint Mary's on Nov. 14.
"We're thrilled to welcome Clara Djoko to our Rambler family. She brings valuable experience from playing with SIG Basket Strasbourg and will have a positive impact on our program. Clara is a gifted point forward who runs the floor beautifully, excels as a rim runner in transition, and finishes creatively around the basket. We also believe she's going to be a fantastic defender, capable of altering opponents' shots and making a real difference on that end of the floor. We are ecstatic to welcome Clara and the entire Djoko family to Rambler Nation."
