University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Bears Welcome Da’Nae Jefferson To The Program
11/16/2025 4:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. – The Northern Colorado women's basketball program is proud to welcome Da'Nae Jefferson to the program.
"Our focus in this recruiting class was to identify players who bring versatility, play making ability, and a competitive spirit to complement both our current roster and the future of UNC Women's Basketball. This group truly represents the epitome of the student-athlete — high-character young women who are class acts in every sense. Their work ethic, self-motivation, and team-first mentality will serve our program well both on and off the court.As with every recruiting class, I am extremely proud when a young woman chooses to become a Bear and embrace the opportunity to grow here at the University of Northern Colorado." Said Head Coach, Kristen Mattio.
Da'Nae Jefferson — daughter of Davia and Ja'Ron Jefferson — has two siblings, Dreu and Ja'Ron Jefferson II. Her mother, an alumna of the Central Oklahoma, was a member of the cheer team, while her father, a Montana State graduate, played basketball.
Da'Nae plans to pursue both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Sports Medicine at UNC. She chose UNC because from her very first interactions, the coaching staff and team made her feel like part of the Bears family. Her favorite sports memory is hitting the game-winning shot that secured her school's first state championship in 20 years.
"We are thrilled to officially welcome Da'Nae to our Bear family! Da'Nae is one of the top players in the state of Oklahoma and is an explosive, dynamic guard who brings tremendous strength, energy, and play making ability to our backcourt. Her ability to score, defend, and create for others makes her a perfect fit for our system and the way we want to play. We have spent the last couple of years recruiting Da'Nae and her family, and we have loved seeing the growth in both her game and who she is as a person. Her work ethic, maturity, and leadership continue to rise, and we are confident she will make an immediate impact at the next level. Da'Nae also rebounds extremely well from the guard position — her toughness and instincts allow her to impact the game in multiple ways and spark transition opportunities for our team. What makes Da'Nae's signing even more special is that her family has strong Big Sky Conference ties — her father, Ja'Ron Jefferson, was a standout player at Montana State University from 2004–2006. We love that Da'Nae is continuing that legacy within the Big Sky while carving her own path here at Northern Colorado. Da'Nae plays high school basketball for Putnam City North under Coach Logan Martin and gained elite experience competing on the Nike EYBL circuit with Pro Skills, under Director Earl Rooks and Coach Taylor Johnston, where she developed against some of the top competition in the country. Bear Country is going to love watching Da'Nae suit up in that Blue and Gold!" stated Head Coach, Kristen Mattio.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action at uncbears.com and on social media. Follow the Bears on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsWBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsWBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsWBB).
"Our focus in this recruiting class was to identify players who bring versatility, play making ability, and a competitive spirit to complement both our current roster and the future of UNC Women's Basketball. This group truly represents the epitome of the student-athlete — high-character young women who are class acts in every sense. Their work ethic, self-motivation, and team-first mentality will serve our program well both on and off the court.As with every recruiting class, I am extremely proud when a young woman chooses to become a Bear and embrace the opportunity to grow here at the University of Northern Colorado." Said Head Coach, Kristen Mattio.
Da'Nae Jefferson — daughter of Davia and Ja'Ron Jefferson — has two siblings, Dreu and Ja'Ron Jefferson II. Her mother, an alumna of the Central Oklahoma, was a member of the cheer team, while her father, a Montana State graduate, played basketball.
Da'Nae plans to pursue both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Sports Medicine at UNC. She chose UNC because from her very first interactions, the coaching staff and team made her feel like part of the Bears family. Her favorite sports memory is hitting the game-winning shot that secured her school's first state championship in 20 years.
"We are thrilled to officially welcome Da'Nae to our Bear family! Da'Nae is one of the top players in the state of Oklahoma and is an explosive, dynamic guard who brings tremendous strength, energy, and play making ability to our backcourt. Her ability to score, defend, and create for others makes her a perfect fit for our system and the way we want to play. We have spent the last couple of years recruiting Da'Nae and her family, and we have loved seeing the growth in both her game and who she is as a person. Her work ethic, maturity, and leadership continue to rise, and we are confident she will make an immediate impact at the next level. Da'Nae also rebounds extremely well from the guard position — her toughness and instincts allow her to impact the game in multiple ways and spark transition opportunities for our team. What makes Da'Nae's signing even more special is that her family has strong Big Sky Conference ties — her father, Ja'Ron Jefferson, was a standout player at Montana State University from 2004–2006. We love that Da'Nae is continuing that legacy within the Big Sky while carving her own path here at Northern Colorado. Da'Nae plays high school basketball for Putnam City North under Coach Logan Martin and gained elite experience competing on the Nike EYBL circuit with Pro Skills, under Director Earl Rooks and Coach Taylor Johnston, where she developed against some of the top competition in the country. Bear Country is going to love watching Da'Nae suit up in that Blue and Gold!" stated Head Coach, Kristen Mattio.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action at uncbears.com and on social media. Follow the Bears on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsWBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsWBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsWBB).
Women's Walk Recap 2025
Wednesday, July 30
Head Coach Mattio, Neenah George, and London Gamble Post Game Press Conference vs Weber State
Wednesday, May 21
Coach Mattio, Silvia Nativi, and Gabi Fields Post Game Press Conference vs Northern Arizona
Wednesday, May 21
Coach Mattio, London Gamble, and April Rummery-Lamb Post Game Press Conference vs Portland State
Wednesday, May 21
