IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine women's basketball has signed Ameerah Grant and Elodie Lutbert for the 2025-26 season head coach Tamara Inoue announced Tuesday.
"The addition of these two incredible student-athletes brings a whole new level of excitement to our program," Inoue said. "I can't wait for Anteater Nation to get to know them – they're going to make a huge impact on and off the court."
Ameerah Grant was a three-time Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 3 all-state selection at Brown Deer High School. The 5-foot-4 point guard averaged a state-best 39.5 points per game as a senior. She had four 50+ point performances in 2024-25, including a career-high 57 in an 82-81 win over Milwaukee Lutheran on January 31. Grant graduated as Brown Deer's all-time scoring leader, while ranking fifth in WIAA girls' basketball history with 2,071 points. She also totaled 689 rebounds, 368 steals, 257 assists and 251 3-pointers made in her prep career.
"Coach Derek Wynn introduced us to this dynamic point guard, and the moment we saw her, it was an instant YES," Inoue said. "Her basketball IQ is exceptional, and her ability to score and read the open court is next level. We're thrilled to have her join us and can't wait to see her in action."
Elodie Lutbert is a 6-foot-6 center who hails from Sainte-Luce, Martinique. Lutbert played for ESB Villeneuve-d'Ascq in the Ligue Féminine de Basketball (LFB). She also represented Team France at the 2023 FIBA U18 Women's European Championships where she appeared in seven games, averaging 2.3 points and 2.9 rebounds. In addition, Lutbert was selected to France's squad that will travel to Portugal for the FIBA U20 Women's Eurobasket in August.
"Coach Fabrice introduced me to Elodie, and she instantly was an absolute joy to talk to – her personality is magnetic," Inoue said. "She won't just win fans over with her skills on the court, but with the energy and positivity she brings to every room she walks into. She'll be representing her country again this summer and we're counting down the days until she's here with us."
