Georgia Women’s Basketball Press Release
Former Parkway star Dakota Howard has transferred to Georgia following the hiring of her former coach at McNeese State, Ayla Guzzardo, as head coach.
Howard was the 2026 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year at McNeese State last season. She helped the Cowgirls go 29-6 and win the Southland Conference regular-season title. Howard was also named first-team All-Conference.
Guzzardo announced the signing of Howard and former McNeese guard Tyreona Sibley on April 12. Guzzardo was named head coach on April 5.
Howard will be a sophomore and Sibley a junior on this year’s roster.
“Dakota and Ty were important pieces for us and keys to our success at McNeese State,” Guzzardo said. “I am thrilled they are now with us here at Georgia. They are both dynamic players who play with passion and energy and fit our system. I have known Dakota and Ty for a very long time. They are great people who will represent our team and our university well.”
Howard, a 5-foot-11 forward, had a breakout season in her first year playing collegiate basketball. She led McNeese State with 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
She also paced the league in steals with 2.8 per game, helping McNeese State finish first in the conference in scoring defense, holding teams to just 52.8 ppg.
Howard scored in double figures a team-best 25 times with five double-doubles last season. She went to McNeese State after a stellar high school career at Parkway. She averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals per game her senior season, helping the Lady Panthers reach the non-select Division I championship game.
Sibley, a 5-foot-8 guard from Baton Rouge, went to McNeese State after playing for Guzzardo for one season at Southeastern. She started 25 games and finished second on the team with 72 total assists during the 2025-26 campaign. Sibley scored in double figures 12 times, including a team-best 12 points against Alabama.
Sibley prepped at Central High School, where she was a Louisiana All-Star selection and was named to the Geaux Prep Girls 5A All-State Team.