University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Women's Basketball

Kyle Rechlicz, the 2016 Horizon League Coach of the Year, enters her 14th season as the head coach of the Milwaukee women's basketball team in 2025-26. During her tenure, Rechlicz has returned Milwaukee to a place of prominence with three 20-win campaigns in the last seven seasons, the most in the program’s Division I history. Throughout her time as head coach, Rechlicz has led 11 All-Conference selections, while the team has also had four All-Defensive and six All-Freshman honorees. The 2024-25 campaign featured redshirt-freshman Payton Rechlicz earning a spot on the Horizon League All-Freshman Team. Anna Lutz was recognized with a spot on the prestigious DI-AAA Athletic Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Team, while three Panthers were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. The Panthers earned the fifth seed in the 2024 Horizon League Women's Basketball Championship as the team earned 10 league wins, which included a regular season finale over Green Bay on the road to clinch a bye into the quarterfinal round. Kendall Nead earned All-League First Team honors, while putting together a historic 38-point performance in non-conference play at McNeese State. The team also tied the program record for three pointers in a regulation contest with 17 against Central Michigan. Later in the season, Horizon Sixth Player of the Year Grace Crowley wrote a new line in the Panther record book, becoming the first Panther to finish a game shooting 100-percent from the field with at least 10 attempts. In 2022-23, Milwaukee put together a season that saw the Panthers take down the top-two teams in the preseason poll as the team won at home against Green Bay, while taking down league favorite Youngstown State in Ohio in mid-February. The team put together an all-time defensive effort in late December, when the Panthers held Detroit Mercy to a program-record .175 shooting percentage while holding the Titans to a record low 29 points. The team reached the Horizon League quarterfinals after a first-round victory over Robert Morris at home. The Panthers also saw Megan Walstad earn a spot on the Horizon League All-Defensive Team, for the third-straight season, while freshman Kamy Peppler picked up accolades as an All-Freshman Team selection. The Panthers finished 13-9 in Horizon League action in 2021-22 marking the seventh straight season with at least 10 league victories. Rechlicz helped Walstad to her second straight All-League First Team honor, just the third Panther in program history to receive multiple first team selections. Walstad also became just the second Panther in program history to be named All-Defensive distinction multiple times. Rechlicz and the Panthers put together one of the best seasons in program history in 2020-21, finishing 20-8 overall record and 15-5 in league play to clinch a share of the Horizon League Championship for the third time in program history. Milwaukee had its best start in program history (15-1) and recorded wins over Marquette, Green Bay (twice), and IUPUI (twice). Additionally, MKE was receiving votes in the USA Today/AP Poll for the first time in program history. The Panthers received a bid to the postseason WNIT Tournament and reached the second round following a win over Drake. Milwaukee owned one of the nation’s top defenses in 2020-21, finishing in the top 20 in points allowed (18th, 55.7ppg) and field goal percentage defense (16th, 35.2%). The Panthers also set a new NCAA record at the free throw line for men and women, hitting 83.8 percent (394-for-470) of their shots from the charity stripe. In 2018-19, Rechlicz reached the 100-win mark with her fifth straight double-digit victory season. She coached a pair of players to postseason honors for the second straight season as Ryaen Johnson (All-Defensive) and Walstad (All-Freshman) collected Horizon League awards. The 2017-18 season was a memorable one for the Panthers. Rechlicz coached her team to 21 wins, the second-highest total in program history. It also marked the first time since moving to Division I that Milwaukee recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons. The team earned an at-large berth to the Postseason WNIT, opening things up with an impressive 81-67 road win. Under Rechlicz, Steph Kostowicz and Jenny Lindner were both named to the All-Horizon League teams, marking the first time since 2005-06 that Milwaukee earned a pair of representatives on the 10-player all-league team. Rechlicz has quickly made her name known and within the region in making Milwaukee a force to be reckoned with. During the 2017-18 season alone, the Panther took down two Big Ten foes (Wisconsin and Northwestern) on the road to go with five wins over fellow Mid-Major ranked opponents. That comes one year after beating in-state rivals Wisconsin (80-63) and Green Bay (72-60) for the first time in the same season in 25 years. 2016-17 was also a special year in that Rechlicz led her team to a 22-12 campaign, tying the program record for most wins in a season. That was culminated with a berth to the WBI, where the Panthers advance all the way to the semifinals. That all came just one year after Rechlicz made a big splash in 2015-16. Despite being picked ninth in the 10-team Horizon League, Rechlicz guided that team to a second-place finish in both the regular season and conference tournament. That marked just the third time in league history that a team finished in the bottom two one year and the top two the following season for an incredible turnaround. That earned Milwaukee a berth in the WNIT - the team's first postseason appearance in a decade and just third overall, finishing with a 19-13 overall record. For all of her efforts, Rechlicz was named Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2016, becoming just the second coach in program history to earn that distinction. Looking back, the writing was on the wall for all this success for Rechlicz. In 2014-15, her team claimed Milwaukee's first postseason victory in five years, featured a first-team all-league selection for the first time since 2010-11 and also had a member of the league's all-freshman squad for the first time in four seasons. In her first season on the sidelines, her team broke three Horizon League records and 10 different school records, including fewest turnovers per game and a new standard for points in a contest when the Panthers finished with 116 against Bradley. Rechlicz was named the seventh coach in program history in May 2012 and came to Milwaukee from the University of Wisconsin. There she served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Badgers during the 2011-12 campaign.    Many Wisconsin basketball fans may better know Rechlicz as Kyle Black, who was a key member of very successful University of Wisconsin women's basketball teams from 1998-2002. For the 2000-01 and 2001-02 teams that went to the NCAA tournament, she served as co-captain and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team. As a Badger, Rechlicz helped guide Wisconsin to four postseason appearances, including NCAA tournament berths in 2001 and 2002. She was one of Wisconsin's premier three-point shooters, setting a school record with seven triples in collecting a career-high 26 points against Holy Cross. She led the Big Ten Conference in three-point field goal percentage as a junior, hitting 40.6 percent from beyond the arc. As a senior, Rechlicz earned her second Academic All-Big Ten honor while averaging a career-best 12.1 points per game. Since her playing days, Rechlicz has been associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Dayton (2007-11) and the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Cleveland State (2003-07). Rechlicz, who was brought back to her alma mater in April 2011 by then first-year head coach Bobbie Kelsey, directed the UW-Madison recruiting efforts that led to the signing of five highly regarded players and one transfer from Connecticut. She also assisted with all aspects of on-court coaching, with specific responsibility for player preparation and skill development of guards. The Flyers made four postseason appearances during Rechlicz's tenure there, including two NCAA tournament berths. Dayton advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2009-10, finishing 25-8 on the season. The Flyers also appeared in the NCAA tournament in 2010, losing in the first round to Penn State. Dayton made WNIT appearances in 2008 and 2009, advancing to the second round in 2009. Rechlicz Head Coaching Career Record Year Overall Pct. Horizon League Finish Postseason 2024-25 8-24 .250 5-15 11th 2023-24 16-16 .500 10-10 5th 2022-23 11-19 .367 8-12 t-7th 2021-22    15-16 .484 13-9 6th 2020-21 20-8 .714 15-5 t-1st WNIT Second Round 2019-20 15-16 .484 11-7 5th 2018-19 15-15     .500 10-8 6th 2017-18 21-12 .636 11-7 4th WNIT Second Round 2016-17 22-12 .648 11-7 5th WBI Semifinals 2015-16 * 19-13 .594 12-6 2nd WNIT First Round 2014-15 10-20 .333 5-11 8th 2013-14 8-22 .267 4-12 7th 2012-13 9-20 .310 5-11 t-6th 12-year Milwaukee Record 189-213 .489 120-120 *Horizon League Coach of the Year   Rechlicz Coaching Career Year School Position 2012-Present Milwaukee Head Coach 2011-12 Wisconsin Assistant Coach 2007-11 Dayton Associate Head Coach 2003-07 Cleveland State Assistant Coach

John Pfaffl was named the Associate Head Coach of the Milwaukee women’s basketball program in the summer of 2025 and will enter his first season with the program in 2025-26.   With a successful athletics career rooted in the Milwaukee area, Pfaffl joins the Panthers after serving as the Director of Athletics at Pius XI Catholic High School. During his two-year tenure, he oversaw all aspects of the school’s athletics program.   Prior to his time at Pius XI, Pfaffl held various roles at Cardinal Stritch University, most notably serving as head women’s basketball coach from the 2010-11 season through 2022-23.   Pfaffl compiled a head coaching record is 252-120 (.677 winning percentage) overall, with a 147-66 mark (.690) in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. He was named CCAC Coach of the Year in both 2011 and 2012.   His team reached for the 2014 NAIA Division II Final Four, finishing the season with a 27-7 record and an 18-game winning streak. The Wolves fell to No. 1-ranked St. Francis (Ind.) in the national semifinals.   In addition to the Final Four appearance, the Wolves qualified for a pair of Elite Eights and advanced to the Sweet 16 on eight occasions during his tenure. Overall, his teams made 23 national tournament appearances, including a stretch of 18 consecutive berths from 2001-19, spanning his time as both assistant and head coach.   Pfaffl’s teams also excelled academically and were active in the community. Student-athletes earned numerous academic honors while regularly participating in service initiatives, including work with Special Olympics, the United Way Women’s Shelter, and the Milwaukee Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.   Pfaffl began his coaching career at the youth level before moving on to football at Pius XI and girls’ basketball at St. Mary’s Academy. He later joined Cardinal Stritch as an assistant coach under Rich Panella.   In 1994, Pfaffl was hired full-time at Stritch as the sports information director. He also led the men’s and women’s cross country teams and served as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs.   After 15 seasons in those roles, he became Director of Recreation, Intramurals, and Facilities while continuing as an assistant with the women’s basketball team. During that time, the women’s team posted a .809 winning, won 16 regular-season titles, and made 14 appearances in the NAIA Division II Tournament. The men’s team posted a .688 winning percentage, won six regular-season titles, and qualified for the tournament six times. In addition to his coaching and administrative roles, Pfaffl served as an adjunct instructor, teaching courses in physical education and sport management.   A Milwaukee native, Pfaffl was a multi-sport athlete at Pius XI before beginning his collegiate football career at Lawrence University in Appleton. He later transferred to Milwaukee to complete his undergraduate degree in health science and went on to add a postgraduate degree in sport management from Cardinal Stritch.   He resides in nearby Fox Point with his wife, Janice, their youngest daughter, Karli, and their dog, Ryli. Eldest daughter Sofia resides in Nashville.  

AJ Ediger joins the Milwaukee basketball coaching staff for her first season in 2025-26.   Ediger comes to Milwaukee following a four-year career at the University of Iowa, where she helped the Hawkeyes to 112 victories. During her time at Iowa, the Hawkeyes qualified for the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship in each of her four seasons, including back-to-back appearances in the national championship games in 2022-23 and 2023-24.   A part of three Big Ten Championship teams, she played in 68 career games in the Black & Gold, finishing with a field goal percentage of .576. She also totaled 69 career rebounds along with 12 assists, three blocks, and 10 steals.   As a senior in 2024-25, she shot a career-best 64.7% from the field and finished her collegiate career with 117 points. Following the season, she was named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team.   In the classroom, Ediger was a Dean’s List member throughout college, and away from basketball served over 140 hours of community service through ISAAC, DEI education, outreach, and advocacy.   While in college, she also was the head student-athlete coach for Iowa’s youth camps and was responsible for 10-20 athletes per session. Ediger implemented skill development drills, team competitions, and led the middle school camp independently, including creating the curriculum and managing scheduling.   A native of Hudsonville, Mich., Ediger was ranked among the nation’s top recruits in the 2021 signing class by ESPN. She earned numerous awards throughout high school, including All-State recognition, and played AAU for the West Michigan Drive, helping her team to a third-place finish at the 2019 National Blue Star Championship Tournament. A multi-sport athlete, she also competed in both volleyball and track & field at Hamilton High School.   Ediger earned her degree in social justice from Iowa in the spring of 2025.  

Fletcher Brown returns to the Milwaukee basketball staff as an assistant coach for his second season in 2025-26.   Brown joined the Panther staff after serving as the head women’s basketball coach at Chandler Gilbert Community College in Chandler, Arizona. While with the Coyotes, he helped lead the team to consecutive playoff appearances in both 2023 and 2024, as he increased the team’s win total in each of his three seasons after taking over following the COVID-19 pandemic.   His head coaching duties at Chandler Gilbert also included fundraising, recruiting, and many day-to-day operations of the program including player development, conditioning and practice planning. Brown also served on the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Council, while also serving the athletic department as its sports information director.   While with Chandler Gilbert, Brown was selected to be a roundtable speaker at the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association convention in Dallas, Texas at the 2023 Final Four.   Prior to his time in Arizona, Brown coached at Maine Fort Kent for four seasons where he led the Bengals to three trips to the USCAA National Tournament as the team amassed 50 wins during his tenure. In his second season with the team in 2018-19, Brown led the squad to an appearance in the USCAA National Championship game following a season that saw the team lead the USCAA in team defense, while they were also tops in both assists per game and steals per game.   Before his time on the women’s side at Maine Fort Kent, Brown was an assistant coach on the men’s staff, helping the team to a 23-win campaign. Throughout his time in Northern Maine, the Bengals had two USCAA National Players of the Year, seven All-Americans, and one USCAA Student-Athlete of the Year.   Brown was a student-athlete at Maine Fort Kent competing in over 50 games during his two seasons with the Bengals including 45 starts. He averaged better than 19 minutes per game and had over 200 rebounds and 87 assists with 35 steals, while also shooting better than 40 percent from three as a senior.   He played two seasons for Contra Costa Community College in San Pablo, California, after being selected as an All-City honoree for Balboa High School in his native San Francisco.   He earned his degree from Maine Fort Kent in English studies, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He later earned his master’s degree in leadership and organizational studies from the University of Southern Maine.  

Lanyce Williams joins the Milwaukee basketball coaching staff for her first season in 2025-26.   Williams comes to Milwaukee following a two-year graduate assistantship at the University of Cincinnati, where she earned her graduate degree in educational leadership.   During her time at Cincinnati, the Bearcats totaled 29 wins with Williams on the staff and improved their league win total to seven this past season – their highest mark since the 2019-20 campaign. The program saw two All-Big 12 Selections as well during Williams’ tenure.   She aided in the commitment of a top-15 recruiting class in 2025 and played a pivotal role in recruiting, working directly with the recruiting coordinator at Cincinnati. Her other responsibilities included managing film transfer, providing in-game feedback, preparing scouting reports, and assisting in the team’s academic successes while supervising study hall.   Williams began her coaching career at the University of Memphis, serving as an undergraduate assistant coach during the 2022-23 season and helped lead the Tigers to a third-round appearance in the WNIT. Memphis finished with 22 wins that season, including an 11-4 mark in American Athletic Conference play.   Before transitioning to coaching, Williams was a member of the Memphis roster for three seasons, contributing to 32 wins over the two-plus seasons played before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.   She earned AAC All-Academic Team honors in 2019-20 and was the All-Around Tiger Award recipient a year later. Williams earned a spot on the Dean’s List each semester while in college and served as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a senior.   A three-star recruit according to ESPN, Williams helped lead Arlington High School to four district championships, including two undefeated seasons in league play. She was an All-District selection as a junior and graduated with a 4.00 GPA.   She earned her undergraduate degree in education from Memphis in spring 2023, graduating summa cum laude.  

Hannah Whitish joins the Milwaukee basketball staff for her first season in 2025-26.   Whitish joins the Panthers’ staff after playing professionally for the past five seasons and enjoying a standout career at the University of Nebraska.   Away from a decorated on-court career, Whitish has been an assistant coach and skills director with Team Herro since March 2025 and has been a skills trainer since April 2020.   Whitish most recently played for Hosbo Basket following two seasons with Östersund Basket, both in the Swedish Basketball League. Before playing in Sweden, her professional career began in Germany’s Damen-Basketball-Bundesliga 2, competing as a member of Rhein-Main Basket.   At Nebraska, Whitish played in 121 games for the Cornhuskers and averaged more than 28 minutes per game over four seasons. She finished with 1,228 career points, an average of 10.1 points per game, ranking 19th in all-time scoring at the time of graduation.   A sharpshooter from deep, Whitish recorded 258 career three-pointers and tallied 470 assists, both top-10 marks in Husker history. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, she became the first player in program history to reach 1,000 points, 400 assists, and 200 three-pointers.   During her time in Lincoln, she helped Nebraska to 59 wins, including an NCAA at-large selection as a sophomore, where they faced Arizona State. The Huskers also tallied 30 Big Ten victories during her career.   Whitish was a team captain at Nebraska as a senior and twice named the team’s Offensive Player of the Year. She was also a three-time member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, which recognizes student-athletes for their commitment to service and community involvement.   The 2016 Wisconsin Miss Basketball, Whitish was selected as the state’s top high school girls’ basketball player while representing Barneveld High School. She was also the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, a four-time All-Wisconsin First Team selection, and a two-time Conference Player of the Year.   Whitish earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management in May 2020 from Nebraska.