DETROIT (5-13-26) – Detroit Mercy women's basketball Head Coach
Kiefer Haffey announced the signing of transfer Paula Lopez, who comes to the Titans from Buffalo.
"One of the final pieces to the puzzle for the 2026-2027 class has arrived with Paula Lopez," said Haffey. "We sought out to build a roster full of high-motor and competitive young people who wanted to be part of something bigger than themselves, and Paula fits that mold. She adds guard experience, scoring, and perimeter shooting to our young core of guards. She has played, started, and scored in a lot of Division I basketball games, including teams with championship experience. Her experience, competitiveness, and high motor will impact our program immediately. I can't wait for Titan fans to meet Paula as her spirit fits the identity of what our fans connect with and enjoy watching at Calihan Hall."
Paula Lopez (5-8) – G
Hometown: Alicante, Spain
Previous School: Buffalo
High School: EPLA
Club Team: San Blas Alicante
Why Paula Chose Detroit Mercy:
"The environment at Detroit Mercy is amazing, and the program is ready to compete and win. The campus is so natural with good people and a lot of excitement for work. The university feels familiar, and everyone supports each other."
2025-26 Buffalo:
• Appeared in all 30 games, with 29 starts during junior campaign, averaging a career-high 7.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while also logging a career-best 27.6 minutes per contest
• Scored in double figures nine times.
• Her half-court buzzer-beater ranked No. 7 on ESPN SC Top-10.
• Posted a career-high 24 points going a career-best 10-for-23 shooting and 4-for-9 from 3-point range at Vermont (11/12).
• Recorded 21 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc, at UMass (3/7).
• Notched 13 points against nationally-ranked Kentucky (11/9)
• Added 17 points at Western Michigan (1/3).
2024-25 Buffalo:
• Appeared in all 37 games with 12 starts, as a sophomore, averaging 2.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 41.0% from the floor, helping the Bulls to a 2025 WNIT championship.
• Recorded season-best 13 points on a season-best three made threes in the win over St. Bonaventure (11/30).
• Scored 12 points on six made field goals in a win over Buffalo State (11/8).
• Dished out a career-best seven assists in wins over St. Bonaventure and at Ohio (2/15).
• Logged a season-best 27 minutes in back-to-back games at Niagara (11/26) and against St. Bonaventure.
2023-24 Buffalo:
• Appeared in 32 games as a freshman, averaging 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds per game while also recording 22 assists.
• Scored a season-high 10 points in the win over Kutztown (11/26).
• Logged a season-high 32 minutes and scored eight points at Old Dominion (11/11)
• Recorded multiple three-point field goals made at NIU (1/17) and in a win over Ohio (2/23).
Club Highlights:
• Top scorer in the Spanish Championship, averaging 19.0 ppg in 2019, helping San Blas Alicante to a No. 13 ranking in the Spanish Club Championship in 2019.
• Also helped San Blas Alicante to a No. 8 ranking in 2018.
• Scored 15 points, with three assists, five rebounds, and two steals against 16 Valoration.
• Competed for the Argentinian national team at the FIBA U17 World Cup, leading the team in scoring and rebounds, averaging 11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
• Played for CB Paterna/Valencia, helping the team to a Spanish Club Championship appearance in 2023.
• Also played for CB Boet Mataro in the team's debut in the Challenge League, which is the second-best League in Spain.
