MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee head women's basketball coach Kyle Rechlicz announced that Rita Gomes will be joining the Panthers beginning in 2025-26.
 
Gomes will transfer to Milwaukee from Arizona Western, where she was an integral member in the team's success over the past two seasons in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference.
 
"Rita has been a consistent shooter at a high-level junior college for the last two years," commented Rechlicz. "She has a love for the game that translates into her work ethic, has played a lot of minutes and brings a wealth of experience. She is a welcome addition to our Panther family." 

Gomes helped the Matadors to 47 wins over her two years with the team. This past season the team went 26-5 overall, with a 16-2 mark in conference games and qualified for the second round of the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship.
 
Gomes led the team in scoring on six occasions this past season, including twice in postseason games against Southern Nevada and Dodge City. She scored 351 points as a sophomore, including 95 makes from beyond the arc, shooting 38.6 from three. Overall, she connected on 40.4 percent from the field, while adding 168 rebounds, 56 assists, 66 turnovers, and 19 blocks. Following the season, Gomes was named a WBCA Two-Year College Coaches' All-America honorable mention. She also earned All-ACCAC Second Team honors and was selected to the All-Region Second Team. 
 
She finished her career at Arizona Western having scored 579 points over 59 games, while starting in 35 contests. She averaged 28.0 minutes per game and made over 200 field goals with nearly 150 of those coming from deep. In total she had 258 rebounds, 113 assists, 124 steals, and 27 blocks during her junior college career.
 
Gomes is a native of Lisbon, Portugal, and previously played at Escola Básica e Secundária Amélia Rey Colaço. While there she helped the team to a district championship as well as a third-place finish in the National Championship. She was a member of the Merit Board in high school.

Gomes joins Milwaukee's incoming class, which features Valérie Cassidy-De Falco, Micayla Silas, Tierney Madigan, Elizabeth Favret, Madison Fitzgibbon, and Olivia Olson.