FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball program and Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis have unveiled their two new signings for the Fairfield Basketball Class of 2028 with Julia Karpell and Cyanne John signing their National Letters of Intent to play for the Stags next season. Both student-athletes will bring talent and experience to the Fairfield roster and is the second recruiting class under Coach Thibault-DuDonis.
 
"We are thrilled about Cyanne and Julia joining our family," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "They both help enhance the culture of our program and immediately add to what we are able to do on the court with their versatile skill sets. We are looking forward to adding this second signing class to a great group of returners next season."
 
Julia Karpell | 5-11 | Guard | Saint John Vianney


 
Karpell has helped her high school squad St. John Vianney become one of the best teams in the country, ranking in the top-10 in the nation for all three of her seasons. Last season, she was one of the team's best shooters, connecting on 56 3-pointers while amassing a career-high 239 points. She also added 72 assists and showed her versatility on the defensive side with 56 steals. She led the Lancers to an outstanding 32-1 record during her junior season while also claiming two State Championships and three Shore Conference Titles. For her success, she was named to the All-Shore and All-Division First Teams.
 
"We are so excited to add Julia to our family," Coach Thibault-DuDonis said. 'She has an elite shooting ability to go along with a high basketball IQ that fits well into what we are building here at Fairfield. Julia exhibits a lot of the intangibles, both on and off the court, that we look for when bringing in student-athletes to our program. She comes from a winning program and knows what it takes to be a champion."
 
Cyanne John | 6-0 | Forward | Capital Courts Academy


 
John was named the Ontario Basketball Association (OSBA) Defensive Player of the Year after finishing the campaign with 63 steals and 32 blocks. She was one of just 24 Canadian players chosen to take part in the 2023 BioSteel All-Star Game, earning All-Star First Team accolades. Offensively, she finished the season with 195 points and 35 assists while grabbing 127 rebounds. She also represented Team Canada in the Jr. NBA Global Championships.
 
"Our fans are going to love watching Cyanne play!" Coach Thibault-DuDonis said. "She is hard-working, gritty, versatile, and always finds a way to leave her fingerprints all over every game she plays. Cy is a great fit in our style of play as a post player, or as we like to call them "roadrunners", as she can run, score inside, stretch the floor, rebound, and guard multiple positions. She has a high ceiling and we are excited to see her grow and develop in her time at Fairfield!"
 
The duo will join a Fairfield team that finished in the top-five in the MAAC last season and reached the MAAC Quarterfinals for the 16th time in the last 17 seasons. Fairfield returned eight letter winners to this year's squad that was picked to finish third in the conference in the Preseason Poll.