Syracuse women’s basketball adds Turkish guard Elif Çayir for 2026-27 season
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Turkish guard Elif Çayir has committed to play for Syracuse women’s basketball, the team announced Thursday.
Çayir, 20, last played for Nesibe Aydin in Turkey’s Women’s Basketball Super League. The 5-foot-10 guard made 33 appearances across four seasons, shooting 40% from the field, dishing out 12 assists and grabbing 44 rebounds.
Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack has a recent history of recruiting overseas. That includes Uche Izoje, who joined the Orange in 2025 after three years with the Women’s Japan Basketball League’s Chanson V-Magic. She led Syracuse in points (514) and rebounds (303) last season.
Çayir is SU’s fifth transfer addition this offseason, alongside Sarah Rambus, Tyi Skinner, Jaleesa Molina and Emely Rodriguez. The four also join freshmen Madison Howard and Destiny Robinson as SU looks to build on its 2025 NCAA Tournament run.
