Auburn women's basketball signs six for 2025-26

The Tigers welcome two ESPNW top-60 recruits as part of their class of 2025-26.

by Wes Todd
Auburn women's basketball signs six for 2025-26Auburn women's basketball signs six for 2025-26
David Gray/Auburn Tigers

AUBURN, Ala. – Two top-60 recruits highlight the six-player Auburn women’s basketball signing class for 2025-26, announced today by head coach Johnnie Harris.

The Tigers will welcome Miracle Akpotayobo (6-1, C/F, Delta State, Nigeria), Ja’Kerra Butler (6-1, F, Dacula, Ga.), Yuting Deng (6-0, G, Hunan Province, China), Brandie Harrod (6-0, F, Oklahoma City, Okla.), Sasha Joseph (5-11, G, Atlanta, Ga.) and Nylah Wilson (5-9, G, Colonial Heights, Va.) to the Plains for the 2025-26 season.

Auburn is one of 12 programs nationally with at least two signees inside the ESPNW top 60, one of five in the SEC.

More information about the Tigers’ signees is below:

MIRACLE AKPOTAYOBO
Position: Forward/Center
Height: 6-1
Hometown: Delta State, Nigeria/Dallas, Texas
High School: W.T. White HS
AAU: Texas U

Highlights: Will play her senior season at W.T. White High School in Dallas … Can play both the 4 and the 5 … Excellent shot blocker … Good back-to-the-basket player who can also run the floor … Chose Auburn over Alabama, Rice, SMU and North Texas.

Coach J on Miracle: “Miracle is a tough, physical post player who is a mismatch nightmare. She can play inside and out. She is a player that came on her visit and fell in love with everything about Auburn.”

JA’KERRA BUTLER
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Hometown: Dacula, Ga.
High School: Hebron Christian Academy
AAU: FBC United

Highlights: Helped lead Hebron to 32-2 record and Georgia Class AAA state title in 2024, along with a win in The Throne national tournament … Had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in The Throne championship game … Scored 8 points in state championship game … Averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 2.5 steals as a junior  … All-State and All-Metro selection … Preseason Gwinnett Daily Post Super Six selection for 2024-25 … Chose Auburn over Arizona State, Wake Forest, Boston College, Elon, VCU and Wisconsin. 

Coach J on Ja’Kerra: “Ja’Kerra is a versatile power forward who can step out and shoot the 3. She is a master rebounder and shot blocker. She plays our style of defense.”

YUTING DENG
Position: Guard
Height: 6-0
Hometown: Hunan Province, China

Highlights: Competed for China’s U24 national team in FIBA 3x3 competition … Ranked as 27th-best player in China … Led team to win at FIBA 3x3 Series Debrecen, scoring 11 points with five rebounds in the championship game … Also competed for China’s U18 national team in FIBA Asia Cup … Chose Auburn over Indiana, Washington, BYU and San Francisco.

Coach J on Yuting: “Yuting is a guard with a lot of length who is big, skilled and tough. She has a lot of experience internationally playing on the 3x3 team for China, and will make an immediate impact on our program. She has the ability to create off the bounce, she can hit the mid-range jumper, and she can get to the rim and score.”


BRANDIE HERROD
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Hometown: Oklahoma City, Okla.
High School: Putnam City North HS
AAU: Oklahoma Unity

Highlights: Ranked No. 42 prospect nationally by 247Sports … Four-star recruit and No. 59 overall in the ESPNW HoopGurlz 100 … Ranked No. 38 by Prospects Nation … Chose Auburn over Georgia, Oklahoma State and Utah.

Coach J on Brandie: “Brandie is a big lefty wing. She is super athletic with a silky smooth game. She has the ability to play multiple positions and can score at all of them.”


SASHA JOSEPH
Position: Guard/Forward
Height: 5-11
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
High School: Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy
AAU: Hoop Dreams Athletics

Highlights: Versatile player who can play multiple positions … Tough defender, plays hard on both ends of the floor … Chose Auburn over Oregon State and Colorado, among others.

Coach J on Sasha: “Sasha is a forward who can also step out and play the guard spot. Her midrange game is special. She is a tough competitor who loves defense.”

NYLAH WILSON
Position: Guard
Height: 5-9
Hometown: Colonial Heights, Va.
High School: IMG Academy
AAU: Boo Williams

Highlights: Ranked as five-star prospect and No. 28 recruit nationally by ESPNW HoopGurlz … No. 44 prospect by 247Sports … Three-time All-Metro first team selection at Thomas Dale High School in Richmond, Va. … Helped lead team to Class 6 state runner-up finish in 2024 … Averaged 21.6 points and 3.0 steals per game last season … Will play final high school season at IMG Academy … Chose Auburn over Penn State, Baylor, Arizona and Texas A&M.

Coach J on Nylah: “Nylah is a combo guard who is a fierce competitor. She is willing to do what it takes to win. She has a ‘Mamba mentality’ and approach to the game. She has the ability to take over a game by scoring at all three levels, creating for her teammates or wreaking havoc on defense.”