Purdue women's basketball offseason tracker: The return of Madison Layden
After a year off, Layden plans to use her final season of eligibility with the Boilermakers
The first steps into the transfer portal bring the program a familiar face.
Madison Layden-Zay, who played for the Boilermakers from 2020-21 through the 2023-24 seasons, is returning. Layden-Zay announced her decision on social media.
Layden-Zay left Purdue following her final year but still had one more season of eligibility. After a year off, the Kokomo native is returning.
Layden-Zay is coach Katie Gearlds' first addition during the offseason. On March 14, Layden-Zay submitted her name into the portal as a graduate transfer.
Layden-Zay, who appeared in 111 games and scored 1,022 points, started preparing for a return earlier this winter by working out at Compete Training Academy, which is owned and operated by Jordan and Courtney (Moses) Delks. Courtney played for the Boilermakers and scored over 1,600 points.
Layden-Zay also had a workout at Mackey Arena’s Cardinal Court under the watchful eye of Gearlds.
Near the end of the 2023-24 season, Layden-Zay said she would bypass using her COVID year and finish her career and opted out of playing in the Postseason WNIT. Layden was married to Rees Zay last fall.
She returns to a program with seven players on the roster, including her younger sister, McKenna. Five players with remaining eligibility have entered or plan to enter the transfer portal. According to On3.com, 22 players from the Big Ten have entered the portal.
Where Layden-Zay fits remains to be seen since Gearlds needs to add players from the portal to complete the roster. Layden-Zay has a strong basketball IQ and will bring intangible elements to next year’s team, but needs to provide a significant scoring punch to make up for the lost production.
Tentative 2025-26 Roster
Senior: Madison Layden-Zay
Juniors: Rashunda Jones, McKenna Layden
Sophomores: Lana McCarthy, Kendall Puryear
Freshmen: Avery Gordon, Keona Douwstra
Thank you Mrs Layden— you will be a great help. And being re-united with your sister— it don’t get any better than that. — i can’t wait to see what happens next. Right now— we have 5 starters and 3 subs. The one thing that I like— the players that are still here— love Purdue and everyone will support them. If a player doesn’t want to be at Purdue—- for what ever reason—- I say —thank you for being here and I wish you all the best—and now we are moving on. I remember when 30 players left the football team— but some very good ones stayed—- Mockobee could have went anywhere but he decided to stay. I guess we have some Mockobees on this team also—- thanks to all the players that stayed.—- Just this one player coming back has made my day and I am sure that Katie is working hard to get us more help. I will have to say— for me I see a good future for the football team and the basketball team— GO BOILERS !!!