PHILADELPHIA – Mike McLaughlin, the head coach of the University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team, announced the program's incoming class on Thursday afternoon.
 
Four student-athletes—Ruke Ogbevire, Ari Paraskevopoulou, Kate Lipatova, and Sarah Gordon—from two states and three countries will be making their debuts in the Red and Blue this winter.
 
"We're thrilled to welcome this talented group to Penn Women's Basketball," said McLaughlin, the program's all-time winningest head coach. "Each of them brings a unique skill set that will make our program stronger—Ruke's creativity and pace, Sarah's elite shooting, Kate's versatility inside and out, and Ari's grit and toughness. As a group, they bring maturity, energy, and a competitive edge that will make an immediate impact. We're excited about the future of Penn Basketball with this class."
 
Penn has seen a tremendous amount of success with its last two freshmen classes, taking home the Ivy League Rookie of the Year honor in both the 2023-24 (Mataya Gayle) and 2024-25 (Katie Collins) seasons.
 

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#3 Ruke Ogbevire
5-7 | G | Houston, Texas | Fulshear
 
High School: Led Fulshear basketball to third place at state championships … All-State selection … 20-6A Offensive Player of the Year … Defensive Most Valuable Player … All-time leading scorer for high school with 1,895 points … Also registered 471 career assists … Has the most triple doubles in program history.
 
Personal: Older sister, Ese, plays basketball at Penn … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Why Penn?: "I chose Penn because of the combination of strong academics and a team culture that feels like family. Having my sister here makes the experience even more meaningful, and I can't wait to continue building memories together at Penn."
 
Coach McLaughlin on Ruke: "We're excited to welcome Ruke to Penn Women's Basketball. She's a dynamic guard with tremendous ball skills and a natural creativity to her game. Ruke plays fast, makes her teammates better, and has the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. With her skill set and energy, she's going to be a great addition to our program!"
 
 
#5 Ari Paraskevopoulou
6-0 | F | Athens, Greece | 16th General HS of Athens
 
High School: Member of the Greek National Team … Played for the U20 Greek National Team Division B in 2024-25, earning Best Performer honors and was the team's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer … Member of U18 Greek National Team Division B, leading team to third-place finish … Was named Best Performer and earned a spot on Tournament Best 5, finishing as the team's leading scorer and rebounder … Also played at the club level for Athinaikos, playing in A1 Division during the 2023-24 campaign, named Most Valuable Player … Won the A2 Division Championship in 2022-23, subsequently promoted to A1 Division.
 
Personal: Born Aristea Paraskevopoulou ... Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business, majoring in Economics.
 
Why Penn?: "I chose Penn because it offers the perfect balance of social life, academics, and sports. I'm very honored to be able to attend such a historic institution."
 
Coach McLaughlin on Ari: "We're thrilled to welcome Ari to Penn Women's Basketball. She's a tough, physical forward who brings grit and competitiveness to the post position. Coming off valuable experience with the Greek U20 National Team, Ari is battle-tested on the international stage and prepared to play at a high level. Her toughness and work ethic will make her a great fit for our program!"
 
 
#21 Kate Lipatova
6-3 | C | Moscow, Russia | Putnam Science Academy (Conn.)
 
High School: Member of the Russian National Team … Two-time champion for Russia in 2018-19 and 2021-22 … Won three championships with Moscow club team … Moved to America at 17 years old to pursue dream of playing basketball in the United States.
 
Personal: Born Ekaterina Lipatova ... Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Why Penn?: "I chose Penn for the strong athletic and academic programs, as well as the amazing coaching staff."
 
Coach McLaughlin on Kate: "We're excited to welcome Kate to our program. She's a versatile forward with the ability to play both inside and outside, which makes her a difficult matchup. Kate brings maturity to her game well beyond her years, and we expect her to have an immediate impact in the post position. Her skill set and experience will give us great flexibility on both ends of the floor. We can't wait to get to work with Kate!"
 
 
#32 Sarah Gordon
5-11 | G | Vestavia Hills, Ala. | Vestavia Hills
 
High School: Played four years at Vestavia Hills and earned All-State honors in all four seasons … First-team All-State in 2024 and 2025 … Participated in the North vs. South All-Star Game and Alabama vs. Mississippi All-Star Game … Kiwanis Club of Birmingham Girls Basketball Player of the Year … 2024-25 All-Metro Player of the Year … First-team Birmingham News All-Region … Finished high school career as Vestavia Hills' all-time leading scorer with 2,168 points … Shot 43 percent from the three-point line and averaged 19 points per game during senior year.
 
Personal: Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Why Penn?: "I chose Penn for many reasons. The culture of the coaching staff and team was very welcoming. It is a historic campus known for its world-class academics and competitive athletics. I am blessed with the opportunity to come to Penn and I'm looking forward to my next four years in Philadelphia."
 
Coach McLaughlin on Sarah: "We're thrilled to add Sarah to our Penn Women's Basketball family. She's an elite shooter with great range and the ability to spread the floor, which will open up so much for our offense. Sarah plays with confidence, toughness, and a competitive edge that fits perfectly with our team's identity. Her work ethic and poise will allow her to grow quickly at this level, and we believe she'll make her presence felt immediately."
 
For the latest on Penn women's basketball, follow @PennWBB on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.