Women’s basketball standout and Syracuse University School of Education alumna Kayla Alexander ’13 was honored on the court Dec. 8, 2024—at halftime during the Notre Dame matchup—when her famed #40 jersey was hoisted to the JMA Wireless Dome rafters and officially retired.
Alexander holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Social Studies Education. She is Syracuse’s all-time leader in career points and the only player in program history to score 2,000 points. She becomes the second women’s basketball alumna to earn a retired jersey, joining current Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack ’89. She is also the third SOE alumna to receive this high honor (see below).
Says Alexander: “It’s still so surreal to me because in my head I’ve always believed that people who get their jerseys in the rafters—like those are legendary people and to me, I’m just Kayla.”
Among many career honors and highlights, Alexander was an Associated Press All-American from 2009-2013; she helped guide the Orange to four postseason appearances, including an NCAA berth; she was drafted eighth overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Silver Stars, and played five seasons for the Stars before going on to play for the Indiana Fever (2018), Chicago Sky (2019), Minnesota Lynx (2020), and for teams throughout the world; and she has been a key player on Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team and a two-time Olympian (Tokyo 2021, Paris 2024).
Not forgetting her School of Education roots, Alexander is a twice published author, with The Magic of Basketball, a children’s book illustrated by her sister Kesia, and Women for the Win, with Natalie Achonwa and other members of Team Canada.
“Syracuse was a place that I really grew up, I learned a lot about myself and my values—who I am, who I want to be. I was lucky to have people at Syracuse help me grow in that journey,” Alexander says.
The SOE Women’s Sports Hall of Fame … So Far!
There’s no doubt that Kayla Alexander is a standout Orange athlete who makes us #ProudtoBeSU, and she is not alone on that roster. Here is the School of Education Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, as of 2024—included are three retired jerseys, multiple national and professional team appearances, and several Olympic games:
Kayla Alexander ’13
History and Social Studies Education
- Basketball (retired jersey #40—2024)
- Team Canada
- Olympian (2020, 2024)
Alexander is Syracuse’s all-time leader in career points; an Associated Press All-American (2009-2013); a WNBA and international professional athlete; and a key player for Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team, helping to earn 2nd place at the FIBA AmeriCup 2019 and representing Team Canada at two Olympics (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024).
Katie Rowan Thompson ’09, G’10
Inclusive Elementary and Special Education (B.S.) and Literacy Education (M.S.)
- Lacrosse (retired jersey #21—2021)
- Team USA
A three-time first-team All-American, Thomson recorded the most points (396) and assists (164) in Syracuse women’s lacrosse history. She also helped lead the Orange to their first Final Four appearance in 2008 and the US Women’s National Team to World Cup championships in 2009 and 2013. She played professionally for the Long Island Sound.
Jenna Caira ’12
Physical Education
- Softball (retired jersey #29—2023)
- Team Canada
- Olympian (2020)
In her Orange career, Cairo amassed 1051 strikeouts, the first pitcher in Big East Conference history to reach the thousand mark. She was also the 2009 BIG EAST Conference Rookie of the Year; the 2011 BIG EAST Conference Pitcher of the Year; a four-time All-BIG EAST Conference honoree; a professional athlete (Canadian Wild); and a member of Team Canada, helping them to win a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Katie Hursey Zaferes ’12
Physical Education
- Track & Field
- Team USA
- Olympian (2016, 2020)
Zaferes broke multiple University records in steeplechase before converting to triathlon in 2013. She made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Olympic Games, finishing 18th. She then rose to the top of the international rankings, placing fifth in the World Triathlon Championship Series in 2015, fourth in 2016, third in 2017, and second in 2018, before capturing her first career title in 2019. She won a bronze at Tokyo 2020, becoming the third US triathlete to win an Olympic medal.
Kayla Treanor ’16
Selected Studies in Education
- Lacrosse
- Team USA
- Head Coach (Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse)
A four-time All-American, Treanor was named the Women’s Lacrosse program’s third head coach in 2021. As a player, she led the Orange to four consecutive appearances at Championship Weekend from 2013-2016 and a spot in the 2014 national championship game, and she was the only player in program history to earn IWLCA first-team All-America honors in each of her four seasons. She helped Team USA take home gold at the 2017 and 2022 World Championships and was named to the All-World Team in both tourneys. As a coach, she led Syracuse back to Championship Weekend in just her second season at the helm (2023), with the Orange breaking the program’s record for an opening winning streak: 15 games. Treanor played professionally from 2017 to 2021 (Boston Storm and New York Fight).