Syracuse women’s basketball adds Turkish guard Elif Çayir for 2026-27 season
Elif Çayir committed to Syracuse after playing four seasons for Turkish club Nesibe Aydin, where she shot 40% and grabbed 44 rebounds. Matthew Crisafulli | Staff Photographer
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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 .400 from the field, dishing out 12 assists and grabbing 44 rebounds.
Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack has a recent history of recruiting overseas. Namely, Uche Izoje, who joined the Orange in 2025 after three years with the Women’s Japan Basketball League’s Chanson V-Magic, 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 join Syracuse alongside freshmen Madison Howard and Destiny Robinson as SU builds on its 2025 NCAA Tournament run.
