The Western Kentucky women’s basketball team has lost one of its top returning players to an in-state rival.

Junior guard Josie Gilvin announced via social media that she is headed to the University of Kentucky on Friday, opting to head to Lexington after entering the transfer portal last week.

“Always will be a Kentucky girl,” Gilvin said in the post with the graphic “Kentucky women’s basketball. Committed.”

The Sacred Heart product had a breakout season for WKU this past season, earning second team All-Conference USA honors and was selected to the CUSA All-Defensive team. Gilvin averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds with 82 steals and 78 assists. She scored a career-high 31 points in the final regular-season game at Liberty and recorded six double-doubles.

She has appeared in 92 games since arriving at WKU in the fall of 2022, making 45 starts. Gilvin was the only player on the roster from the state of Kentucky.

Gilvin was one of two players on this year’s roster that entered the portal on March 25, according to the WKU website. Junior point guard Mackenzie Chatfield also entered on that day and is still in the portal.

On3.com also reports that senior guard Acacia Hayes entered the transfer portal this week, but it has yet to be confirmed by the WKU website or any of Hayes’ social media posts.

Hayes, a three-year starter, averaged 11.3 points last season.

Western Kentucky finished 23-9 last season. The Lady Toppers lose Alexis Mead, Destiny Salary and Mariama Sow from this year’s roster, which featured an influx of portal players last season.

With Gilvin’s departure and Hayes in the portal, forward Zsofia Telegdy is the only starter from last season’s team that remains on the active roster.