Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Blue Raiders Sign Elite International Prospect
4/17/2026 4:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – One of the top International prospects for class of 2026, Maayan Cohen, has signed with the Middle Tennessee women's basketball team, head coach Matt Insell announced Friday afternoon.
"We are super excited about Maayan joining the Middle Tennessee women's basketball family," Insell said. "She is an outstanding young lady who comes to us from Israel and is close friends with former Lady Raider Dor Saar. We could not be more excited for her to join our program. She is an elite-level shooter — and I mean elite. She has performed at the highest levels internationally, competing in World Cups and World Championships with her home country, while also playing in one of the top basketball leagues in Israel. She has proven she is one of the top shooters not only in her class, but in the world. I expect her to have a major impact on our basketball team immediately, and I can't wait to coach her."
A 5-foot-6 guard from Israel, Cohen brings extensive international experience to Middle Tennessee after representing her home country in multiple FIBA youth competitions from 2022-25. Most recently, she played in all seven games for Israel at the 2025 FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket, averaging 9.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. She also competed in six games at the 2025 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup, where she averaged 15.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 43 percent from three-point range. Cohen appeared in all seven games of the 2024 FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket, posting 12.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per contest, after averaging 8.9 points and 1.9 rebounds across seven games at the 2023 FIBA U18 Women's European Championship. She began her international career at the 2022 FIBA U16 Women's European Championship Division B, averaging 9.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in seven games.
Maayan joins a signing class that already includes former CUSA standout and Miami guard Mya Kone, ESPN Top 75 recruit Aaliyah Blanchard and Tennessee native McLyane Bobo. The Blue Raiders also return a strong nucleus for the 2026-27 season, led by three returning starters in reigning Conference USA Freshman of the Year Blair Baugus, along with standout guards Kirston Verhulst and Carsyn Swaney. Gracie Hamby and Stanislava Kabernick add proven production and versatility, while Jenna McClendon, Nicole Dominguez and Nora Ahamadi give the Blue Raiders added size, skill and depth heading into the new season.
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