LAWRENCE, Kansas: Aniya Thomas has returned to the Kansas Women’s Basketball program, where she will work as a graduate assistant for the next 2024–25 campaign, according to head coach Brandon Schneider.
“I have no doubt that Aniya will be an asset to the program in this new capacity. She was a great representative of Kansas Women’s Basketball during her playing career,” Schneider stated. “I’m thrilled to see a former player join our team and pursue a career in the field that I adore so much.”
During his four seasons as a player at Kansas (2019–22), Thomas appeared in 114 games and was selected three times for the Academic All-Big 12 First Team. During her time at KU, she scored 979 points, averaging 8.6 points per game. In the 2019–20 season, she set a team record with 12.6 points per game. Both in her junior and senior seasons, Thomas led the Jayhawks in steals.
Thomas played a fifth season as a graduate student at Missouri State after leaving Kansas. At 14.9 points per game, she led the Lady Bears in scoring and was named to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) All-Defensive Team, All-Newcomer Team, and Second Team All-MVC teams. She was named MVC Newcomer of the Week twice and made the honor roll both semesters she attended MSU.
Thomas remarked, “I am thrilled to be back at KU and have the chance to learn from Coach Brandon and the staff.” “I believe in the culture of this program and want to have an impact on its future as a former player.”
Thomas played two seasons of professional basketball to prolong her playing career. In 2023–2024, she averaged 22.6 points per game while playing for Hamar-Þór in Iceland. Later that summer, in 2024, she transferred to Club Santos Del Potosí in Mexico, where she participated in 23 games and scored 15.0 points per game.
Thomas, a resident of Duncanville, Texas, earned a degree in communications with a minor in sports management from the University of Kansas in May 2022. Later on, Missouri State awarded her a master’s degree in professional studies.
