ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland University women's basketball program and head coach Keisha Newell have announced the signing of transfer guard Ella Riggs, who will join the Golden Grizzlies for the upcoming season.

"I'm thrilled to welcome Ella to the OU family," said Newell. "We had an up-close look at what she's capable of in the Horizon League and she consistently proved to be a tough matchup. Ella is a versatile, physical guard who can impact the game in multiple ways. Whether it's knocking down shots from behind the arc or taking advantage of smaller defenders in the post, she has a great feel for the game and does an excellent job reading defenses. Her strength and presence will be a major asset for us on the defensive end as well. I'm excited to see her represent Oakland in black and gold."

Riggs comes to Oakland after appearing in all 35 games during the 2025-26 season at Horizon League opponent Purdue Fort Wayne, providing key depth off the bench. She averaged 4.1 points per game while shooting 31.5 percent from beyond the arc and reached double figures five times. Her breakout performance came on Dec. 19 against Aquinas, where she poured in a career-high 24 points, going an impressive 10-for-11 from the field. Her 90.9 shooting percentage in that game matched a program record.

Riggs began her collegiate career at Furman, where she redshirted during the 2023-24 season. As a freshman in 2022-23, she appeared in 18 games and made an immediate impression, scoring 16 points in her collegiate debut against Erskine. She later posted 15 points at Chattanooga and a season-high 18 points against East Tennessee State. Riggs shot an impressive 45.2 percent from three-point range and 93.8 percent from the free throw line, while also earning SoCon Academic Honor Roll recognition.

A standout at Indian Hills High School, Riggs was a prolific scorer and decorated athlete. She helped lead her team to four Cincinnati Hills League championships and finished her career as the program's all-time leading scorer. She set school records for most points as both a freshman (417) and senior (523), and averaged 23.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.1 steals per game as a junior. A four-time all-conference selection and two-time conference Player of the Year, Riggs also earned two all-district honors and was named First Team All-Ohio as a senior. In addition to basketball, she competed in track & field and lacrosse.

Riggs adds another experienced and dynamic piece to Oakland's backcourt as the Golden Grizzlies continue to build for the 2026-27 season.