The University of Utah's men's and women's basketball programs will travel to the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, for the 2026 Monster Energy Big 12 Basketball Media Days on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21. The conference announced a new format for the event, which will feature men's and women's programs from each institution on the same day to highlight the depth of the league.
Utah Women's Basketball Representatives
For the women's basketball program, the University of Utah will be represented by Chyra Evans, Lena Girardi, and Filipa Barros, alongside head coach Gavin Petersen. The group will participate during the media days, which include a scheduled Q&A session moderated by former K-State guard and WNBA analyst Missy Heidrick.
Key Women's Players
The women's roster features several key returners and newcomers. Senior forward Chyra Evans, a Newcastle, Australia native, led the Utes in field goal percentage during the 2025-26 season at 50.2%. During that season, Evans averaged 8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, including a career-high 13 rebounds in a single game.
New and Returning Talent
Senior guard Filipa Barros joins the Utes following four seasons at California Baptist, where she led the Lancers to three consecutive WAC Championship titles and a second NCAA Tournament berth. During the 2025-26 season, Barros recorded 335 rebounds, 91 steals, and averaged 11 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists per game. Sophomore guard Lena Girardi joins the program from Oklahoma State, where she played 28 games and averaged 7.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
Utah Men's Basketball Representatives
The men's basketball program will be represented by head coach Alex Jensen, Alec Anigbata, and Jackson Holcombe. While Jensen is making his second appearance at the Big 12 Media Days, Anigbata and Holcombe will both be making their debuts as members of the Runnin' Utes.
Men's Roster Details
Alec Anigbata, a native of Munich, Germany, joins the team from Ratiopharm Ulm, a team he helped lead to the championship game in the Germany BBL last season. Jackson Holcombe joins the program after three seasons at Utah Valley, where he helped the team win back-to-back regular-season titles in 2023-26. During his time at UVU, Holcombe led the team in scoring with 16.0 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 2.2 steals per game.
Event Enhancements
The Big 12 Conference announced several enhancements for the 2026 event, including the launch of "The Rotation," a personality-driven original content series featuring interviews with student-athletes and coaches. This series will air live on the Big 12's YouTube channel from 2 to 4 p.m. CT each day. Additionally, the Monster Energy Lounge will provide a space for athletes and coaches to connect, and SLAM Magazine will be on-site to capture content for all 32 Big 12 programs.
Media and Broadcast Coverage Details:
Television coverage for the media days will be provided by all five of the conference's partners: ESPN, FOX, CBS, TNT, and NBC. ESPNU will broadcast coverage from the main set between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. CT each day, with a simulcast on Big 12 Studios and BYUtv. A feed of all press conferences and interviews will also be available on ESPN+.
