Finding Washington Huskies’ Fifth Starter (Part 2): Scouting the Candidates

Consequently, Washington’s search for a fifth starter isn’t about plugging a hole — it’s choosing the right piece to elevate an established lineup without being an achilles heel, offensively, defensively or mentally.

UW’s fifth starter must be specifically equipped to handle the competitive pressure that will inevitably come their way — their mental performance, shaped by past experiences, must elevate to meet a higher standard and that may ultimately be the deciding factor among the candidates.

The fifth starter must be a difference maker that raises the performance ceiling, not just a good rotational player. However, that in no way diminishes the importance of UW’s rotational players to UW’s Big Ten championship aspirations. The collective performance of the 6th through 9th Husky rotational players will impact Washington’s victory total at least as much as the fifth starter, if not more.

Is Nina Cain the Overlooked Sleeper Candidate?

Which brings us to Nina Cain. the underdog sleeper candidate that played a total of 31 minutes last season, averaging about 3.9 minutes in eight games played.

Cain came to Washington as a highly touted 2025 recruit. A now 6’2″ wing/forward, Cain’s high school reputation was built on advanced footwork, versatility, and a high basketball IQ — projected as a high floor/high ceiling, system‑proof, plug‑and ‑play contributor for Washington.

Based on talent alone, it is possible Nina Cain could make a major push for UW’s 5th starting position. However, Cain’s lack of playing experience weighs heavily against her odds of winning the starting job early in the season — that is the main reason we view her as a heavy rotational player, not a likely frontrunner for the starting job, that could play herself into strong consideration.

The 5th Starter Candidates

Here’s a detailed look at each (most likely) candidate competing to join Sayvia Sellers, Avery Howell, Brynn McGaughy, and Tilda Trygger in the Dawgs’ starting five.

Kaelyn “K.K.” Carroll— 6’3″ Wing, Sophomore (Kentucky Transfer)

Profile: High‑upside, long, athletic wing with real two‑way potential.

Strengths:

• Size + length at the wing — of the kind UW hasn’t had in years.

• Flashes of perimeter shooting (30.9% from three at Kentucky).

• Switchable defender who can guard 2–4.

• Fits perfectly next to Sellers and Howell as a low‑usage, high‑impact connector.

• Huge upside swing: if she pops, Washington’s ceiling jumps a tier.

Questions

• Can she become a consistent perimeter threat?

• How quickly does she adapt to Langley’s system and spacing principles?

• Will she assert herself offensively or defer too much?

Why she can win the job: Carroll gives Washington the most complete lineup: size, spacing, defense, and long‑term upside. If she hits, UW becomes matchup‑proof.

Brooke Carlson — 5’10” Combo Guard, Junior (Colorado State Transfer)

Profile: Tough, downhill guard with proven scoring ability.

Strengths

• 11.9 PPG at CSU with strong efficiency inside the arc.

• Creates pressure on the paint defenders, something UW needs more of after losing Ladine.

• Physical defender who competes on every possession.

• Secondary playmaking that can ease the load on Sellers.

Questions:

• Can she consistently hit threes at Big Ten speed?

• How does she fit next to Howell and Sellers in spacing‑heavy lineups?

• Will her scoring translate against bigger, more athletic defenses?

Why she can win the job: If Tina Langley wants a downhill scorer to replace Ladine’s paint pressure, Carlson is the most natural fit. She brings toughness and instant offense.

Macey Huard — 6’0″ Guard, Redshirt Sophomore (Oklahoma State)

Profile: Pure shooter with elite spacing gravity.

Strengths:

• One of the best shooters on the roster — deep range, quick release.

• Forces defenses to stay honest, opening lanes for Sellers, Trygger and McGaughy.

• High‑IQ off‑ball mover who fits Langley’s motion principles.

Questions:

• Can she defend Big Ten wings consistently?

• Can she add enough off‑the‑bounce creation to stay on the floor in tight games?

• Does she bring enough physicality to complement Howell and Trygger?

Why she can win the job: If Washington wants to maximize spacing, giving Sellers a wide‑open floor plus Trygger and McGaughy more room to operate, then Huard is the cleanest fit. She changes the geometry of the offense.

Devin Coppinger — 6’0″ Guard/Wing, Junior (Washington)

Profile: Versatile, steady two‑way guard with a high basketball IQ.

Strengths:

• Reliable defender who rarely makes mistakes.

• Connective passer who keeps the offense flowing.

• Capable shooter who doesn’t need high usage to impact the game.

• Under‑the‑radar breakout candidate after a strong sophomore season.

Questions:

• Can she become a more aggressive scorer?

• Will she take enough threes to keep defenses honest?

• Does she have the athletic pop to win the job over more dynamic options?

Why she can win the job: If Tina Langley prioritizes stability, defense, and decision‑making, Coppinger is the safest choice. She raises the floor of every lineup.

Who Has the Inside Track?

Each candidate brings something different:

• Carroll → size, versatility, upside

• Carlson → paint pressure, toughness, scoring

• Huard → shooting, spacing

• Coppinger → balance, IQ, two‑way reliability

The competition will likely come down to Carroll vs. Carlson, with Huard and Coppinger pushing hard for starter-like minutes depending on matchups.

But before we move on, let’s revisit Nina Cain’s candidacy.

Scouting the Sleeper Candidate

Nina Cain — 6’2″ Wing/Forward (2025 Washington Recruit)

Profile: a strong, mobile 6’2″ frame, ability to run the floor and move like a wing/forward hybrid

Strengths:

• size combined with positional versatility

• advanced pivot-based footwork and can score inside without needing elite athleticism by finishing with both hands and through contact.

• defensive versatility allows her to guard traditional post players, stretch forwards, and even some wings in switch situations.

• high basketball IQ for her age allows her to make winning plays on offense and defense.

Questions:

• can Cain’s face-up shooting range hold up against elite P4 perimeter defenders? she can beat slower forwards off the dribble but consistent shooting from the mid-range area and beyond is needed.

• can Cain operate fluidly within Washington’s structured offensive system that prioritizes spacing and multi-action reads, rather than only creating independently via 1v1 isolation plays?

• will Cain’s physical advantages pre-college translate to the physical Big Ten, where 6’2″ is not considered an elite length for an inside-the-arc scorer without a consistent outside game?

Why she can win the job: Tina Langley has consistently built her roster around versatile, intelligent wing players that can toggle between roles without breaking the team’s offensive structure. Cain’s versatility could strengthen UW’s defensive versatility across the frontcourt — her 6’2″ size allowing Cain to draw smaller quicker forwards that may be a more difficult matchup for 6’6″ Tilda Trygger and 6’3″ Brynn McGaughy.

Ultimately, that’s the real story overall: Washington finally has versatile depth within an array of scenarios — and that’s how good teams become great.