Missouri women’s tennis added one of the most accomplished incoming players in program history on Sunday, signing Romanian freshman Alexandra-Irina Anghel to join the Tigers for the 2026-27 season.
The 19-year-old arrives in Columbia with significant professional experience, holding a career-high Women’s Tennis Association ranking of No. 530 in doubles and No. 1,101 in singles. Her doubles ranking is the highest among any player currently on Missouri’s roster, giving the Tigers an immediate boost as they continue building depth under head coach Robin Goodman.
“We are excited to welcome Irina to our family,” head coach Robin Goodman said in a statement. “She is a fantastic player that brings extensive pro tour experience to our program. During the recruiting process, she showed tremendous dedication and commitment to her tennis development. She has big goals of a future career on the pro tour and we would love to help her on that journey.
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“Not only is she a great player and an excellent student, as a person, she is very professional, down to earth and honest. The community here in Columbia will be excited to get to know Irina.”
Anghel’s commitment came together late in the recruiting cycle after she spent time weighing whether to continue pursuing the professional circuit before beginning her collegiate career. Goodman said that decision is common among international players, many of whom delay college while exploring professional opportunities.
Despite her experience against professional competition, Anghel will arrive as a true freshman with four years of collegiate eligibility. Goodman believes that combination gives the Tigers both an immediate contributor and a player with room to develop.
“She has time to get used to the level and improve in our system,” Goodman said.
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Anghel’s professional background should allow her to compete for a prominent role in both singles and doubles as soon as she steps foot in Como. Her experience facing seasoned opponents on the ITF and WTA circuits adds another layer of maturity to a Missouri roster that continues to blend veteran leadership with young talent.
The signing also reinforces Missouri’s emphasis on international recruiting, bringing in a player Goodman believes has both the talent to help the Tigers compete in the SEC and the long-term potential to return to the professional ranks after college.
With the addition of Anghel, Missouri adds a player whose résumé already includes success at the professional level while still possessing the developmental runway of a freshman. The Tigers hope that blend of experience and upside can strengthen the lineup immediately as they prepare for the 2026-27 season.
