Ariyana Cradle, a 26-year-old point guard, has committed to Louisville

The point guard is the Cardinals’ second commitment in the 2026 cycle.

Louisville, Kentucky – Jeff Walz and the Louisville women’s basketball team have received their second commitment in the Class of 2026, just seven months after getting their first.

Westerville (Oh.) SPIRE Academy point guard Ariyana Cradle / University of Louisville Athletics

Westerville (Ohio) SPIRE Academy point guard Ariyana Cradle, a four-star cycle prospect, said on Sunday that she had verbally committed to the Cardinals. Cradle also had offers from LSU, Mississippi State, West Virginia, and others.

Cradle has been a long-term objective of the staff, having been sought by Walz and Co. since seventh grade and being offered early in May 2024. She just returned from a visit to the Cardinals and also visited Michigan State.

According to ESPN, the 5-foot-8 ball handler is listed as the No. 8 true point guard in the cycle and the 56th overall talent in the nation. The On3 Industry ranks her as the No. 71 recruit in the Class of 2026 and the top player in Ohio.

Cradle recently completed a successful junior season at Westerville (Ohio) South. MaxPreps tracked 24 games, and she averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 4.0 steals per game. She shot 40.9 percent from the field and 35.5 percent on three-point attempts.

She also competed in the Overtime Select earlier this summer, an eight-team tournament featuring some of the best high school girls prospects in the country. She averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while playing for the All Knighters, which helped them win the Overtime Select championship.

She is the second 2026 recruit to pledge to Louisville, following Fort Wayne (Ind.) Homestead shooting guard Myah Epps, who made the decision in mid-February.