TicketsCINCINNATI — University of Cincinnati women's basketball head coach Katrina Merriweather announced the signing of Yar Tong on Thursday. Tong joins the Bearcats after spending the last two seasons at UT Martin.
A 6-foot-3 forward from Calgary, Tong adds size and athleticism to Cincinnati’s frontcourt entering the 2026-27 season.
“We are thrilled that, after evaluating her options, Yar chose to be a Bearcat,” said Merriweather. “She fits in with our culture as she is a hard worker, intentional, and family-oriented. Yar’s versatility on both ends of the floor will immediately impact our team with her length and athleticism. She is a great finisher who can stretch the floor and has just started scratching the surface. We’re looking forward to her continued development in The Sisterhood.”
Tong appeared in 24 games with four starts during the 2025-26 season, averaging nine minutes per contest. She totaled 54 points, 54 rebounds and 12 blocks on the year. She posted a season-high 17 points against Champion Christian College while shooting 7-of-9 from the floor. She also opened her collegiate career with a 10-rebound performance against Fisk.
Tong redshirted during the 2024-25 campaign.
Before beginning her collegiate career, Tong prepped at Edge Prep. She was named to the Canada West Top 50 Futures prospect list, selected to the 2023 Alberta 17U Girls Team and accepted an invitation to train at the NextGen national team training camp as part of the 2023 NCAA College Basketball Academy.
Tong joins an incoming class that features freshmen Zou Garba and Jaidyn Gunter, along with transfers Naomi Benson, Sahnya Jah, Jade Jones and Amber Bullard.
// SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season tickets are on sale now ahead of the 2026-27 season! Fans can select from a variety of general admission seating options inside Fifth Third Arena with prices starting at $100. Ready to join The Sisterhood? Click here or contact the Bearcats Ticket Office at 513-556-2287 to lock in your seat now.