EVANSTON, Ill. (November 12, 2026) – Northwestern head women’s basketball coach Carla Berube announced the addition of three student-athletes to the Wildcats’ 2027 signing class on Thursday. Ava Chang (Aurora, Colo./Grandview), Adah Hupfer (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights), and Sophia Towne (Western Springs, Ill./Nazareth Academy) have signed Athletics Scholarship Agreements and will join Northwestern ahead of the 2027-28 season.
AVA CHANG
5-10 • Guard
Aurora, Colo. • Grandview HS
5-foot-10 guard Ava Chang has piled up honors during her time at Grandview High School and abroad as a member of Team Chinese Taipei. A three-time All-Centennial League selection and two-time All-State honoree for head coach Josh Ulitzky, Chang is ranked as the top shooting guard in Colorado and the No. 3 overall prospect in the state by Prep Girls Hoops. She is fresh off a junior campaign in which she stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 18.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 4.3 steals on the way to surpassing 1,000 career points and being named the Centennial League Player of the Year. A 2024-25 state champion with the Wolves, Chang made her mark on the international level this past summer, featuring for Team Chinese Taipei at the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup, where she helped the squad qualify for the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup. She also brings extensive experience on the club level, having played for seven years with the Utah Lady Prospects under coaches Trent and Amber Whiting.
Berube on Ava: “Ava is a dynamic guard who will bring scoring versatility, playmaking ability, and a competitive edge. She can create for herself and her teammates, score from beyond the arc, and use her quickness to get downhill and put pressure on the defense. Ava brings valuable international experience as a member of the Taiwanese National Team and a commitment to continuing to develop her game. We’re excited about the skill, toughness, and playmaking she will bring to Northwestern Women’s Basketball.”
Ava on Northwestern: “I chose Northwestern because it offers the perfect opportunity for me to pursue amazing academics as well as high-level basketball. I love Coach Berube and the entire coaching staff. Northwestern will help me develop not only as a basketball player, but also as a person.”
ADAH HUPFER
6-3 • Forward
Pendleton, Ind. • Pendleton Heights HS
Ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 1 prospect in Indiana by 247Sports, Adah Hupfer has established herself as a force at Pendleton Heights High School under head coach Nick Rogers. Hupfer, a two-time Indiana Supreme 15 All-State pick who ranks as the program’s all-time leading rebounder, has averaged 15.6 points and 12.6 rebounds across the first three years of her high school career. The versatile 6-foot-3 forward is coming off a junior campaign in which she put up 20.5 points and 13.0 rebounds per game en route to posting 24 double-doubles, a total that ranked first in the state of Indiana, while leading the Arabians to a third consecutive Hoosier Heritage Conference (HHC) crown. A two-time All-HHC selection, Hupfer also starred on the club level for coach Natalie Morse’s Indiana Girls Basketball, leading the team to the Elite Eight of Under Armour Nationals.
Berube on Adah: “Adah brings a combination of size, skill, and versatility to our frontcourt. She can score around the basket, stretch the floor with her three-point shooting, and make plays facing up. Adah has already established herself as one of Indiana’s top players, with an ability to impact the game as a scorer, rebounder, and frontcourt presence. We’re excited to welcome her to the Wildcats and add her talent, competitiveness, and versatility to Northwestern.”
Adah on Northwestern: “I chose Northwestern because I’m excited about what Coach Berube and her staff are building and the culture they’re creating within the program. Northwestern offers the best of both worlds, allowing me to pursue excellence, both academically and athletically, while pushing me to grow in every aspect. From the moment I stepped on campus, Northwestern felt like home, and I knew it was the right place for me!”
SOPHIA TOWNE
5-10 • Guard
Western Springs, Ill. • Nazareth Academy
A combo guard out of suburban Western Springs, Ill., Sophia Towne brings a winning pedigree with her to Northwestern. Tabbed as the top player at her position and the No. 3 player in Illinois by Prep Girls Hoops, Towne averaged 15.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.6 steals across 38 games as a junior at Nazareth Academy. She dazzled in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 4A State Final, knocking down four threes as part of a 17-point, five-rebound, five-assist showing that saw her named Player of the Game as head coach Ed Stritzel’s team won the school’s first 4A state title. Towne, who is also a member of Team Prime Nation with coach Nic Levvy, is a multiple-time All-East Suburban Catholic Conference (ESCC), All-Area, and All-State selection, and enters her senior year with a staggering 98-10 career record.
Berube on Sophia: “Sophia is a winner. She understands what it takes to compete at a high level. We’re really excited to welcome her to Northwestern Women’s Basketball. Coming from a Nazareth Academy program that won an Illinois Class 4A state championship, Sophia brings confidence and a competitive mindset to our backcourt. She can stretch the floor with her shooting, create opportunities off the dribble, and make plays for her teammates. Sophia plays with poise and a strong feel for the game, and understands the importance of doing whatever it takes to help her team succeed. We’re thrilled to keep this Chicagoland player close to home.”
Sophia on Northwestern: “I chose Northwestern because Coach Berube and her staff made it feel like family from the moment I visited, and because it’s a great academic school in the Big Ten, where I’ve always dreamed of playing. I love their defense-first, team-oriented approach, and I can’t wait to compete every day.”