The MEAC returns the same eight teams, but two of them, Delaware State and North Carolina Central, have new head coaches, and almost every roster looks different than it did in March. Howard won the regular-season title with a 13-1 record, beat Norfolk State 53-46 in the tournament final, then lost to Ohio State in the NCAA first round, and Player of the Year Zennia Thomas has moved on. Can the Bison stay on top without her, or will a rebuilt Norfolk State finally break through?
The Big Picture
Howard went 13-1, Maryland Eastern Shore and Norfolk State both finished 11-3, and no one else won more than six conference games. I think that gap closes this year. Howard lost Thomas and Nile Miller, who combined for 22.9 points and 14.1 rebounds a game, but it kept Zoe Stewart and Ariella Henigan. Norfolk State lost its Defensive Player of the Year and three All-MEAC guards, but I like the transfer class it brought in more than any other in the league.
The bottom half of the league is the hardest part of this to pick. Morgan State has 13 new players, South Carolina State has 12, Coppin State has 11, Delaware State has 10, and North Carolina Central has 8, so a lot of this order depends on how quickly those groups come together. Only one of the 10 players on last year’s All-MEAC first and second teams, Howard’s Zoe Stewart, is back with her team, which is why I have so little separation from fourth through eighth.
Skim Milkey’s Predicted 2026-27 Order of Finish
1 - Howard
2 - Norfolk State
3 - Maryland Eastern Shore
4 - Coppin State
5 - North Carolina Central
6 - Delaware State
7 - South Carolina State
8 - Morgan State
Skim Milkey’s Preseason All-MEAC Team
Shanaii Gamble, F, Coppin State
Amya Scott, G, Delaware State
Ariella Henigan, G, Howard
Kearra Jones, F, Howard
Saniya Jones, F, Howard
Zoe Stewart, G, Howard
Chasity Wilson, G, Maryland Eastern Shore
Desi Taylor, G, Maryland Eastern Shore
Kalise Hill, G, Maryland Eastern Shore
Kaliya Perry, F, Maryland Eastern Shore
Alexis Davis, F, Norfolk State
Cire Worley, G, Norfolk State
Clemisha Prackett, F, Norfolk State
Ja’Cia Cunningham, G, Norfolk State
Eboni Clay, G, North Carolina Central
Howard
Record: 26-8, 13-1 MEAC (1st, NCAA Tournament appearance)
Coach: Ty Grace, 12th season, 184-147 (16th overall, 249-191)
Howard won the MEAC Tournament, then lost 75-54 to #3 seed Ohio State as a #14 seed. Ty Grace was named Coach of the Year. The Bison lost two players who helped power that run. Zennia Thomas was the Player of the Year, averaging 15.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.0 block, and Nile Miller was a second-team All-MEAC forward who averaged 7.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.4 steals.
Zoe Stewart is the leading returner. She was a first-team All-MEAC guard who started all 34 games, averaged 11.7 points, and shot 36 percent from three. Ariella Henigan was the league’s Rookie of the Year, with 9.2 points and 1.6 steals in 25 starts. Sa’lah Hemingway started 23 games and averaged 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds, Destiny Bynum-Johnson averaged 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds, and April Edwards averaged 5.2 points and 1.8 assists. Dally Moreno, Rayne Durant, Emma Nuquay, Jada Kendrick, Penelope Swarn, and Dylan Watson are also back.
The most important newcomer is Kearra Jones, a 6-1 forward who averaged 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 23 starts as a sophomore at Southeast Missouri State. Saniya Jones, a 6-4 forward, comes from Charleston Southern, while Indiah Hutchinson and Kennedy Deese are freshmen new to the roster.
Howard is first because it has the league's best backcourt and just won both the regular season and the tournament. To finish here, the Bison need Kearra Jones and Saniya Jones to replace the rebounding lost with Thomas and Miller, the team’s two best on the glass. If they can, Howard is hard to pick against again. I trust Stewart and Henigan to carry the scoring, and I think Grace has earned the benefit of the doubt.
Players to watch: Zoe Stewart, Ariella Henigan, Kearra Jones, Saniya Jones
Norfolk State
Record: 18-15, 11-3 MEAC (2nd, tie)
Coach: Jermaine Woods, 2nd season, 18-15 (5th overall, 57-70)
Norfolk State beat Morgan State 69-43 and Maryland Eastern Shore 60-51 before losing to Howard in the final. The Spartans lost most of their best players. Jasha Clinton, a second-team All-MEAC guard, was the Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 12.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.2 steals. Da’Brya Clark was a first-team guard, averaging 12.6 points and 4.9 rebounds, and Anjanae Richardson was a second-team guard, averaging 9.9 points and 2.6 assists. Carmen Kweti and Ciara Bailey, two seniors who combined for 9.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks, are also gone.
Cire Worley leads the returners after starting 28 games and averaging 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. LeAire Nicks averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 18.1 minutes and shot 50 percent from three, and Niyah Gaston averaged 3.1 points.
The transfer class is where Norfolk State rebuilt. Clemisha Prackett averaged 10.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in 19.2 minutes at Indiana State, Ja’Cia Cunningham averaged 10.4 points in 27 games at Presbyterian, and Alexis Davis averaged 6.2 points and 5.6 rebounds in 12 starts at Monmouth. Sana’a Garrett (Hofstra), Brooklyn Taylor (Sacramento State), Niylia Wilkins (Northwest Florida State), and LaChelle Moreland-Jones (Lawrence Tech) also join the team, and Asia Keels, Elise McClain, Jizelle James, and Dahni Suggs are freshmen.
Norfolk State is second because Prackett, Cunningham, and Davis are three transfers who have already produced at the Division I level. The Spartans need Prackett and Davis to cover the rebounding that left with Kweti and Bailey, and they need Worley to lead a backcourt that no longer has Clinton, Clark, or Richardson. Almost none of these players have played together, so if the group comes together by January, this team can challenge Howard. I like this roster more than last year’s record suggests, especially since Prackett seems like she can step into a prominent role.
Players to watch: Clemisha Prackett, Ja’Cia Cunningham, Cire Worley, Alexis Davis
Maryland Eastern Shore
Record: 20-15, 11-3 MEAC (2nd, tie, WNIT appearance)
Coach: Malikah Willis, 3rd season, 34-32
Maryland Eastern Shore won its MEAC quarterfinal game, but lost to Norfolk State 60-51 in the semifinals. The Hawks then made their first postseason appearance, beating Wake Forest 59-48 in the WNIT before a 61-42 loss to Youngstown State. They lost much of their senior production. Ashanti Lynch, a first-team All-MEAC guard, averaged 12.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals, and Brianna Barnes was the Sixth Player of the Year, averaging 10.3 points. Lainey Allen averaged 8.0 points and 6.1 rebounds, Dayshawna Carter averaged 6.7 points, and Dakieran Turner averaged 7.3 rebounds.
The returners are young, and two of them made the All-Rookie team. Kaliya Perry averaged 6.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.0 block, while Desi Taylor averaged 5.0 points and shot 36 percent from three-point range. Kalise Hill started 32 games and averaged 6.1 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 steals. Jailynn Clayton and Jaida Cameron are also back.
Chasity Wilson is the most important newcomer after averaging 8.5 points in 22 starts as a freshman at Niagara. Makylah Moore (Rutgers), Tahj-Monet Bloom (Nevada), and Uzoamaka Angela Samuel (Southern Illinois) are also new, along with freshmen Trista Whitney, Aliza Murray, Patience John, and Marley Jeffers.
I have Maryland Eastern Shore third because it kept Perry, Hill, and Taylor from a team that won 20 games and made the WNIT. The Hawks need Chasity Wilson to step up and provide scoring to replace Lynch and Barnes, who averaged 22.3 points per game combined. If Perry takes another step, this core is good enough to hold off the teams below it. Perry is the one I like most, and I think the Hawks are better than many people will give them credit for after losing this much.
Players to watch: Kaliya Perry, Kalise Hill, Chasity Wilson, Desi Taylor
Coppin State
Record: 10-23, 6-8 MEAC (4th)
Coach: Darrell Mosley, 2nd season, 10-23 (8th overall, 92-89)
Coppin State beat North Carolina Central 70-52 in the quarterfinals and lost to Howard 65-50 in the semifinals. The Eagles lost six of their top seven scorers. Khila Morris was the Newcomer of the Year and a first-team All-MEAC guard who averaged 12.9 points; Paris McBride averaged 9.4 points and 3.4 assists; Erin Henry averaged 7.4 points; Sydney Burris averaged 6.3 points and 5.9 rebounds; Skylar Barnes averaged 5.7 points; and Patricia Sosa Lora averaged 5.1 points and 6.0 rebounds.
Shanaii Gamble is the only returning starter. She started 27 games and averaged 6.3 points and 7.1 rebounds; Kylie Wells is back as a reserve, and Seimone Newton, who did not play last season, is also back.
The rest of the roster is new. Amber Howard from Buffalo, Karen Nimo from Charlotte, Samari Taylor from UAB, Anya George from UMass, and Delaney Cooper from Stony Brook are transfers, and Amber Howard’s 3.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 23 games are the most production any of them had at the Division I level. Jayleen Jones, Bray’ana Miles, Tariya Wright, Heaven Reese, Arly Zapata, and Ciani Scott are freshmen.
Coppin State is fourth, the same spot it finished last year, even though it returns only Gamble, Wells, and Newton. The Eagles need one or two of their 11 newcomers to become scorers, since Morris’s 12.9 points a game are gone and none of the transfers scored more than 3.0 at the Division I level. If Gamble keeps rebounding like she did last year, Coppin State will have something to build on. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Eagles fall further if none of the transfers hit.
Players to watch: Shanaii Gamble, Amber Howard, Karen Nimo, Kylie Wells
North Carolina Central
Record: 9-20, 5-9 MEAC (5th)
Coach: Olivia Gaines, 1st season, 0-0 (5th overall, 85-24)
North Carolina Central lost to Coppin State 70-52 in the quarterfinals and has lost its entire core. Aniya Finger and Morgan Callahan were second-team All-MEAC forwards who averaged 11.9 points and 6.3 rebounds and 11.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, respectively. Tierney Coleman averaged 7.5 points, Natalie Jasper averaged 6.9 points, Najah Lane averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 assists, and Nia Young averaged 4.1 points. The team got a new coach when Olivia Gaines replaced Terrence Baxter, who went 34-56 over three seasons.
Aysia Hinton leads the returners with 5.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals. Dianna Blake started 16 games and averaged 3.3 points and 3.5 rebounds; Victoria Morris started 13, and Shakiria Foster started seven and averaged 3.2 points. Amaya Harris, Aaliyah Grant, and Kendall Alexander are also back.
Eboni Clay is a transfer who should have an immediate impact. The 5-6 guard was the SIAC Freshman of the Year at Allen in 2024-25 and earned All-SIAC honors after scoring 10.8 points a game as a sophomore last year, both under Gaines. Ariel Walker, a 6-1 forward, comes from CCBC Essex, and Shrouq Amer, a 6-3 center, comes from South Plains. Brianna Carelock, Kenadi Banks, Chloe Crawford, Rayana Minard, and Keileen Thompson-Edwards are freshmen.
No returner has averaged more than 5.4 points per game, so this is a full rebuild. North Carolina Central is fifth because its scoring will have to come from newcomers. The Eagles need Clay to carry her production from the SIAC, and they need Amer, the roster's tallest player at 6-3, and Walker to add size. Gaines won 29 games at Richard Bland in 2022-23 and 18 at Allen last season, so if this group buys in quickly, it can finish higher. I’m curious to see how much she changes this program in a single offseason.
Players to watch: Eboni Clay, Aysia Hinton, Shrouq Amer, Ariel Walker
Delaware State
Record: 7-23, 4-10 MEAC (6th, tie)
Coach: Khadijah Rushdan, 1st season, 0-0
Delaware State lost its MEAC quarterfinal to Maryland Eastern Shore 55-48 and then lost most of its rotation. Jermesha Frierson averaged 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds; Ericka Huggins averaged 6.5 points and 4.9 rebounds; Liliana Harrison made the All-Rookie team with 6.1 points and 3.9 rebounds; and Nevaeh Reaves averaged 5.7 points. Nykesha Sanders and Aniyah Jones are also gone. Head coach Jazmone Turner went 7-23 in her final season at Delaware State and will not return to the sidelines. Delaware State hired Khadijah Rushdan, a former Marquette assistant, in April to lead the program.
Amya Scott is the player to build around. She made the All-Rookie team and averaged 8.2 points in 17.9 minutes off the bench, and I expect her role to grow. Mahogany Cottingham, who came to Delaware State from North Dakota, averaged 9.4 points and started all five games she played, and Anise Geiger averaged 3.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks. Channing Williams, who played 11 games, is also back.
Dallas Pierce, a 5-10 combo guard from Siena, is the only listed transfer with Division I experience. Mariah Jones and Oluwalu Enajekpo are freshmen, and Skye Pepp, Jaida Helm, Maya McCorkle, Skylah Kemp, Jadea’ Johnson, Autumn Simon, and Eniyah Stinnette are also newcomers. Almost all of them are listed as guards, and Stinnette, a 6-0 forward, is the only newcomer listed at forward.
Delaware State is sixth because Scott and Cottingham give it a solid guard pairing that could help the Hornets exceed expectations. Scott averaged about 18 points per 40 minutes off the bench, and Cottingham averaged 9.4 points in 27.9 minutes a game. The Hornets need Cottingham on the floor for more than the five games she played last year, and they need someone to emerge up front, since Geiger (6-1) and Stinnette (6-0) are the tallest players on the roster. A first-year head coach and 10 new players make this a hard team to project, but if Scott keeps growing, a top-half finish is within reach.
Players to watch: Amya Scott, Mahogany Cottingham, Dallas Pierce, Anise Geiger
South Carolina State
Record: 5-25, 2-12 MEAC (8th)
Coach: Cedric Baker, 2nd season, 5-25 (34th overall, 461-483)
South Carolina State lost to Howard 75-43 in the quarterfinals and lost five of its top six scorers. Iemyiah Harris averaged 13.5 points, Shaunice Reed averaged 10.5 points, Angie Juste-Jean averaged 8.0 points, Mya Byrd averaged 5.7 points and 2.6 assists, and Feliah Greer averaged 4.6 points and 5.4 rebounds. All of those contributors are gone for Baker’s second season.
Heaven Harper started 23 games and averaged 4.5 points and 4.2 rebounds. Monajah Ford started 14 games and averaged 4.0 points, and Ja’Siiyah Holmes averaged 2.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 14 games. Mya Giles, Kimora Smith, Ariana Simmons, and Terranya Medlock are also back.
The newcomers are mostly transfers and freshmen. K’lya Hankerson comes from Savannah State, where she averaged 10.8 points and 6.6 rebounds, Adena Webster from Monmouth, Trinity Butler from Wabash Valley, Alexis Murphy from Cowley College, and Paula Carvalho from Clarendon. Samiah Puckett is also a transfer. Ja’dore Hayes, K’leighonna Grable, Chase Thomas, Morgan Cochran, Za’mya Jenkins, and Mahalia Thoms are freshmen.
South Carolina State is seventh because it returns seven players and has five listed at 6-2 or taller, but it won only two conference games last year, and most of its scoring is gone. To rise out of the basement, the Bulldogs need Hankerson to produce as she did at Savannah State, and they need Harper and Holmes to hold the post. If Ja’dore Hayes, Chase Thomas, and Morgan Cochran adjust quickly, this team can move up. I don’t see a path to a big jump, but there is more to work with here than a 2-12 record suggests.
Players to watch: K’lya Hankerson, Heaven Harper, Ja’Siiyah Holmes, Monajah Ford
Morgan State
Record: 5-26, 4-10 MEAC (6th, tie)
Coach: Nadine Domond, 2nd season, 5-26 (7th overall, 90-88)
Morgan State lost to Norfolk State 69-43 in the quarterfinals and then lost almost all of its scoring. Ja’la Bannerman averaged 11.0 points; Kailyn Nash averaged 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds; Jael Butler averaged 9.1 points and 4.0 rebounds; and Gabrielle Johnson, Tiyanna James, Michaela Bogans, and Maya Woodson each averaged between 4.1 and 6.1 points. All those players are gone now.
Mihjae Hayes leads the returnees after starting 24 games and averaging 5.7 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 steals. Dakota Alston is the only other player back, averaging 1.6 points. Only two players are back from a 5-26 team, which makes this closer to a fresh start than a rebuild.
Thirteen new players join them, a mix of transfers, junior college players, and freshmen. Merit Innocent averaged 4.8 points and 4.0 rebounds at New Haven; Janaya Meyers comes from North Carolina A&T, Kenya Ramsey from UMBC, Yonta Vaughn from Virginia, Alexiz Graise from Fresno State, Chardae Rumph from Valdosta State, Mercy Lasu from D’Youville, Kazahria Johnson from Northwest Florida State, Kamari Forrest from Kilgore College, Simran Williams from Salt Lake Community College, and Shani Clark from Southwest Tennessee Community College. Dru Carlton and Jahzara Leamon are freshmen.
Morgan State is eighth because it returns only Hayes and Alston and has no clear scorer among 13 newcomers. The Bears need Hayes to keep running the offense, and Innocent, Forrest, and the transfer group to replace the scoring Bannerman, Nash, and Butler provided. If a few of those transfers mesh, Morgan State can move out of the cellar. Hayes gives the Bears a steady point guard, and the question is whether Innocent, who played 26 games at New Haven, can handle a bigger role and whether Vaughn can reach her ceiling.
Players to watch: Mihjae Hayes, Merit Innocent, Kamari Forrest, Yonta Vaughn
MEAC Round-Up
Howard, Norfolk State, and Maryland Eastern Shore are my top three picks, with Howard’s backcourt and Norfolk State’s transfer class giving them the best chance to separate from the rest. I’m least sure about Maryland Eastern Shore because it made the WNIT but lost four of its top five scorers. Coppin State and North Carolina Central come next, and I could see either of them finishing higher if a newcomer takes over. Delaware State, South Carolina State, and Morgan State are all rebuilding, and the order of those three could change more than any other part of this league.
Editor’s Note: Records and conference standings reflect the final 2025-26 MEAC regular season and postseason. Player stats reflect 2025-26 production, unless noted. All eight rosters have been confirmed against official, live 2026-27 team pages as of October 16th. Coaching and roster notes reflect known offseason moves as of October 16th. Roster additions may shift rosters before the season opens in November and may affect the order as of this writing.