North Dakota State returns Avery Koenen, the Summit League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, along with four other players who averaged at least 8.1 points, making the Bison my pick to win the league. South Dakota State, the tournament champion, has its first-team forward back in Brooklyn Meyer, who averaged 22.6 points, but lost Madison Mathiowetz. Kansas City and St. Thomas have new head coaches, and South Dakota added four transfers who averaged at least 7.8 points at their last stops.
The Big Picture
The Summit League has eight teams after Denver left for the West Coast Conference. Two of them have new head coaches: Candi Whitaker, who coached Kansas City from 2006 to 2012 and later led programs at Texas Tech, Missouri Western State, and North Alabama, was hired in March, and Mandy Pearson left Minnesota Duluth for St. Thomas. The other six coaches are back.
Nine of the 16 players on the three All-Summit League teams are back: Avery Koenen, Brooklyn Meyer, and Alyssa Sand from the first team; Elauni Bennett, Marisa Frost, Molly Joyce, and Jocelyn Schiller from the second team; and Emani Bennett and Emilee Fox from the honorable mention list. The other seven are gone: South Dakota State’s Madison Mathiowetz; South Dakota’s Angelina Robles and Elise Turrubiates; Oral Roberts’ Jalei Oglesby and Anna Trusty; North Dakota’s Mackenzie Hughes; and Denver’s Coryn Watts, who is no longer in the league. Roughly 55 of the 113 players on the eight rosters are newcomers, and Kansas City alone added 13. I pick North Dakota State to win the league, with South Dakota State and South Dakota next. South Dakota State won the Summit League Tournament and has Meyer back, and Kansas City is the biggest wildcard.
Skim Milkey’s Predicted 2026-27 Order of Finish
1 - North Dakota State
2 - South Dakota State
3 - South Dakota
4 - St. Thomas
5 - Kansas City
6 - Oral Roberts
7 - Omaha
8 - North Dakota
Skim Milkey’s Preseason All-Summit League Team
Chrishawn Coleman, G, Kansas City
Elauni Bennett, G, Kansas City
Emani Bennett, G, Kansas City
Avery Koenen, F, North Dakota State
Jocelyn Schiller, G, North Dakota State
Karrington Asp, F, North Dakota State
Marisa Frost, G, North Dakota State
Avril Smith, F, Omaha
Regan Juenemann, G, Omaha
Kayten Donley, F, Oral Roberts
Ava Miller, F, South Dakota
Molly Joyce, G, South Dakota
Brooklyn Meyer, F, South Dakota State
Emilee Fox, G, South Dakota State
Alyssa Sand, F, St. Thomas
North Dakota State
Record: 29-5, 15-1 Summit League (1st, WBIT appearance)
Coach: Jory Collins, 8th season, 127-87 (16th overall, 326-145)
North Dakota State won the regular season at 15-1, beat Omaha 87-37 and St. Thomas 63-51 in the Summit League Tournament as the top seed, and lost 64-51 to South Dakota State in the final. The Bison then beat Chattanooga 75-62 in the first round of the WBIT and lost 86-57 to Columbia in the second round. Molly Lenz, a junior guard who averaged 7.9 points and started all 32 games, is gone, along with seniors Abby Graham, who averaged 3.7 points, and Audrey Martinez-Stewart. Sophomore guard Amelia Hobson left for FGCU.
Avery Koenen, a senior forward, was the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 19.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists and starting all 32 games. Marisa Frost, a junior guard and second-team All-Summit League selection, scored 12.8 points, and Karrington Asp, a junior forward, was the Freshman of the Year and Sixth Woman of the Year after scoring 10.8 points and grabbing 4.8 rebounds while starting once. Jocelyn Schiller, a junior guard and second-team selection, scored 10.0 points with 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists, and Abby Krzewinski, a senior guard, scored 8.1 points with 3.7 rebounds and started all 32 games. Miriley Simon, Lily Niebuhr, and McKenna Johnson also return.
Madelynn Muniz, a senior guard, comes from Cal State Fullerton, where she scored 3.9 points in 29 games. Elena Lazarevic, a junior guard, arrives from Slovenia, where she played for the youth national teams and in the Serbian women’s league. Georgia Ell, a sophomore forward, and Sophie Hawkinson, a sophomore guard, were on the roster last season but did not play. The only freshman is guard Liza Trenbeath.
North Dakota State is first because five of its six leading scorers are back, led by the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and the Bison went 15-1 in the regular season. Koenen, Frost, Asp, Schiller, and Krzewinski each scored at least 8.1 points, and Lenz is the only regular starter who is gone. Collins was the Coach of the Year, and with this group back, I expect the Bison to be the team to beat.
Players to watch: Avery Koenen, Marisa Frost, Karrington Asp, Jocelyn Schiller
South Dakota State
Record: 27-7, 14-2 Summit League (2nd, NCAA Tournament appearance)
Coach: Aaron Johnston, 27th season, 655-202
South Dakota State finished second at 14-2 and won the Summit League Tournament, beating Kansas City 75-61, South Dakota 74-59, and North Dakota State 64-51 in the final. The Jackrabbits then lost 72-54 to sixth-seeded Washington in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as an 11 seed. Madison Mathiowetz, a senior guard and first-team All-Summit League selection who averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, is gone, along with senior guard Ellie Colbeck.
Brooklyn Meyer, a fifth-year forward, was a first-team selection and the tournament MVP, averaging 22.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while starting all 34 games. Katie Vasecka, a junior guard, scored 8.5 points, grabbed 3.1 rebounds, and added 2.0 assists, starting all 20 games she played. Emilee Fox, a junior guard and honorable-mention All-Summit League selection, scored 8.4 points, added 2.6 assists, and started all 27 games. Hadley Thul, a sophomore guard and All-Freshman Team selection, scored 6.2 points and started 11 of 33 games, and Mahli Abdouch, a redshirt sophomore guard, scored 6.0 points with 2.4 assists. Maggie Hartwig, a senior forward, scored 5.3 points and grabbed 5.3 rebounds, and Brooklynn Felchle scored 3.5 points. Hilary Behrens, Abby Hoselton, Claire Sheppard, and Jaidyn Dunn also return.
South Dakota State added only two newcomers, freshman guards Audrey Shindelar and Trishelle Miller, and no transfers.
South Dakota State is second because Meyer is back after scoring 22.6 points, and Mathiowetz is the only significant departure. Vasecka, Fox, and Thul have to replace Mathiowetz’s scoring with no transfers coming in, and the Jackrabbits beat North Dakota State in last season’s final, so I would not be surprised to see them finish first. I still have the Bison ahead because their scoring is spread across five players, and Meyer will have to carry more of it for South Dakota State.
Players to watch: Emilee Fox, Katie Vasecka, Hadley Thul, Maggie Hartwig
South Dakota
Record: 26-10, 12-4 Summit League (3rd, WNIT appearance)
Coach: Carrie Eighmey, 3rd season, 37-30 (15th overall, 285-151)
South Dakota finished third, beat Denver 61-50 in the Summit League Tournament quarterfinals, and lost 74-59 to South Dakota State in the semifinals. The Coyotes then received a first-round bye in the WNIT, beat Northern Colorado 80-60 in the second round, Pepperdine 73-57 in the Super 16, and Montana State 65-56 in the Great 8, and lost 67-60 to Illinois State in the semifinals. Angelina Robles, a senior guard and first-team All-Summit League selection who averaged 16.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, is gone. Seniors Elise Turrubiates, who averaged 8.3 points and 7.5 rebounds, Patience Williams, who averaged 8.3 points and 7.1 rebounds, and Josie Hill, who averaged 5.9 points, are also gone, along with Grace Peterson, Olivia Kieffer, Olivia Moore, and Coral Mason.
Molly Joyce, a senior guard, was the Newcomer of the Year and a second-team selection, averaging 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, and starting 25 games. Jenna Hopp, a senior guard, scored 6.5 points and started 28 games, while Tori Schlagel, a sophomore guard, scored 5.5 points and grabbed 2.8 rebounds. Katy Reyerson, a senior forward who played two games, Alex Flattery, a junior guard, and Alyssa Bartlett, a sophomore guard, are also back.
Latazia Williamson, a senior forward from Kennesaw State, scored 9.4 points, grabbed 5.5 rebounds, and started all 26 games; Bri Robinson, a senior guard from Northern Iowa, scored 8.8 points, grabbed 3.8 rebounds, and added 2.4 assists in 24 games. Ava Miller, a junior forward from North Dakota, scored 7.8 points, grabbed 7.3 rebounds, and started 25 games; Gabby Jackson, a sophomore forward from North Alabama, scored 7.8 points and grabbed 6.9 rebounds in 29 games as a freshman. The freshmen are guards Ashlan Carlow, Livi Downs, and Natalie Ramsey, and forward Rowan Jacobi.
South Dakota is third because four transfers who averaged between 7.8 and 9.4 points at their last stops arrive to replace Robles, Turrubiates, and Williams, who combined for 32.9 points. Joyce returns as the Newcomer of the Year, and the Coyotes reached the WNIT semifinals, so I expect them to contend, but they will have to win some tough road games to win the conference title.
Players to watch: Molly Joyce, Bri Robinson, Latazia Williamson, Ava Miller
St. Thomas
Record: 16-16, 8-8 Summit League (4th, tie)
Coach: Mandy Pearson, 1st season, 0-0 (12th overall, 208-105)
St. Thomas finished tied for fourth, beat Oral Roberts 81-54 in the Summit League Tournament quarterfinals, and lost 63-51 to North Dakota State in the semifinals. Ruth Sinn coached last season, and Pearson was hired in March after 11 seasons at Minnesota Duluth. Jada Hood, a graduate guard and All-Newcomer Team selection who averaged 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, and Faith Feuerbach, a senior guard who averaged 9.0 points, are gone.
Alyssa Sand, a junior forward, was a first-team All-Summit League and All-Defensive Team selection after averaging 14.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists and starting all 29 games. Mikayla Werner, a junior guard, scored 8.2 points with 3.7 rebounds, and Savannah McGowan, a senior forward, scored 7.0 points and grabbed 4.2 rebounds. Laura Hauge, a junior guard, scored 5.4 points, and Autumn McCall, a sophomore forward, scored 4.9 points with 3.2 rebounds. Kammie Ludwig, Abbey Vallance, Savannah Gardner, Lydia Aalsma, Addie Schliewe, and Savannah Gage also return.
St. Thomas added no transfers. The newcomers are freshman guards Maya Kovacic, Tessa Driscoll, Samantha Voll, and Morgan Staloch, and forward Jayci Rath.
St. Thomas is fourth because Sand, Werner, and McGowan are three returners who scored at least 7.0 points, but Hood and Feuerbach, who combined for 18.3 points, are gone, and a new coach will have to build the rotation with help from five freshmen. The Tommies went 16-16 last season, and a deeper bench around Sand will be the difference this year.
Players to watch: Alyssa Sand, Mikayla Werner, Savannah McGowan, Autumn McCall
Kansas City
Record: 7-23, 4-12 Summit League (7th)
Coach: Candi Whitaker, 7th season, 78-93 (19th overall, 262-253)
Kansas City finished seventh and lost 75-61 to South Dakota State in the Summit League Tournament quarterfinals. Dionnah Jackson-Durrett coached last season, and Whitaker, who led the Roos from 2006 to 2012, was hired in March after two seasons at North Alabama. Tierra Trotter, a senior guard who averaged 10.4 points and 3.3 assists, and Zaire Harrell, a senior guard who averaged 7.7 points and 6.0 rebounds, are gone, along with seniors Kelby Bannerman, who averaged 5.7 points and 4.4 rebounds, and Jamyah Winter, who averaged 5.3 points. Jumoke Adaramoye, Funmi Amode, Hallie Majoros, Carleigh Andrews, Trinity Chears, Alyssa Febres, Nikole Thomas, Claudia Frances, and Lailah Hatcher are also gone.
Only two players are back. Emani Bennett, a senior guard and honorable-mention All-Summit League selection, scored 13.5 points, grabbed 3.9 rebounds, and started 21 of 26 games. Elauni Bennett, a senior guard and second-team selection, scored 11.6 points, grabbed 7.2 rebounds, and started all 27 games. If you are only returning two players, these two are the ones you wanted back.
Chrishawn Coleman, a junior guard from CSU Bakersfield, scored 15.5 points with 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists and started 28 of 29 games; Avery Hurst, a fifth-year guard who previously played at Pittsburgh and Tennessee, scored 13.0 points and grabbed 3.8 rebounds while starting all 32 games at Belmont. Micaela Carter, a senior guard, scored 5.9 points in 31 games at Hofstra, and Alyssa Nielsen, a senior forward, scored 4.0 points in 31 games at Lindenwood. Bella Edwards, a sophomore guard, scored 3.6 points in 18 games at Oral Roberts, and Remi-Hope Drantmann, a sophomore forward, comes from Mercer. Josie Megehee, a redshirt freshman guard, comes from Tulsa, where she did not play last season. Avery Marchino, a junior guard, and Kimora Fagan, a redshirt sophomore guard, arrive from Seward County Community College, and Talasia Thomas, a junior forward, comes from Chattahoochee Valley Community College. The freshmen are guards Jayla Lewis and Lili Szabo and forward Shiloh Kalenga.
Kansas City is fifth because four guards who averaged at least 11.6 points last season are on the roster, but the Roos won only seven games and have just two returners, so the new group has to learn to play together under a coach who last led the program in 2012. Coleman and Hurst are the transfers most likely to change the offense, and the Bennetts give them two proven scorers to play beside.
Players to watch: Chrishawn Coleman, Elauni Bennett, Emani Bennett, Avery Hurst
Oral Roberts
Record: 15-15, 8-8 Summit League (4th, tie)
Coach: Cophie Anderson, 2nd season, 15-15
Oral Roberts finished tied for fourth and lost 81-54 to St. Thomas in the Summit League Tournament quarterfinals. Jalei Oglesby, a senior guard and second-team All-Summit League selection who averaged 15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, and Anna Trusty, a sophomore guard and All-Newcomer Team selection who averaged 13.9 points and 4.1 rebounds, are gone. Ari Gordon, a junior guard and All-Defensive Team selection who averaged 6.4 points, and Taylor Jackson, a senior forward, are also gone. Bella Edwards, a freshman guard who averaged 3.6 points, left for Kansas City, and A’Maya Holton, a freshman forward, left for UIW.
Kayten Donley, a sophomore forward and All-Freshman Team selection, scored 10.3 points with 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists and started all 27 games, and Gentry Baldwin, a senior guard, scored 9.5 points with 2.5 assists and also started all 27 games. Azailah Funches, a junior guard, scored 4.2 points with 2.7 rebounds, and Preslee Hartsock, a sophomore guard, scored 4.1 points. Sophomore forwards Hannah Coons and Alana Shetlar also return.
Oral Roberts added no Division I transfers. Haven Joseph, a junior forward, arrives from Redlands Community College; Aubrey Hishaw, a sophomore forward, comes from Coffeyville Community College; and Majesty Cade, a sophomore guard, arrives from San Bernardino Valley College. The freshmen are guards Aliyah Duval and Keelie Kronberger and forward Kaylee Ward.
Oral Roberts is sixth because Oglesby and Trusty, who combined for 29.4 points, are gone, and the newcomers are junior college players and freshmen who have not played Division I basketball. Donley and Baldwin are a good starting point, and the Golden Eagles won 15 games last season, but their scoring depth is thin.
Players to watch: Kayten Donley, Gentry Baldwin, Azailah Funches, Haven Joseph
Omaha
Record: 6-27, 3-13 Summit League (8th, tie)
Coach: Jamie Carey, 2nd season, 6-27
Omaha finished tied for eighth, beat North Dakota 49-39 in the first round of the Summit League Tournament, and lost 87-37 to North Dakota State in the quarterfinals. Sarai Estupiñan, a senior guard who averaged 11.9 points and 2.8 assists, is gone, along with sophomore guard Daria Shelby. Freshman forward Lillian Merow left for Southeastern Louisiana, and Esra Kurban, Reilly Palmer, Lainey Maehl, and Erikka Gooden are also gone.
Cora Olsen, a senior forward, averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in only five games, and Regan Juenemann, a sophomore guard and All-Freshman Team selection, scored 11.4 points in 30 games. Ali Stephens, a senior forward, scored 7.9 points and grabbed 5.2 rebounds in 31 starts, and Leekaya Burke Perryman, a sophomore guard, scored 5.8 points and added 2.0 assists. Elsa Vedral, a sophomore guard, scored 4.2 points and started 19 games, while Avril Smith, a sophomore forward and All-Freshman Team and All-Defensive Team selection, scored 3.5 points, grabbed 10.9 rebounds, and started all 31 games.
Mya Skoff, a senior guard, comes from Lindenwood, where she scored 8.0 points with 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists and started 21 of 31 games, and Nyaluak Dak, a junior center, arrives from East Texas A&M. Aduke Ojullu, a sophomore forward, and Tannika Leger-Walker, a sophomore guard, were on the roster last season but did not appear in a game. The freshmen are guards Ani Leu, Ava Markowski, Halle Dolliver, and Sydney Terveen, and forward Jade Brown.
Omaha is seventh because six returners averaged at least 3.5 points, led by Olsen, who scored 15.8 points but played only five games, and Juenemann, an All-Freshman Team guard. The Mavericks won only six games with this group, so a healthy Olsen and Skoff’s experience have to turn that around, and I expect Omaha to finish ahead of North Dakota.
Players to watch: Regan Juenemann, Cora Olsen, Avril Smith, Mya Skoff
North Dakota
Record: 7-24, 3-13 Summit League (8th, tie)
Coach: Dennis Hutter, 2nd season, 7-24 (21st overall, 321-231)
North Dakota finished tied for eighth and lost 49-39 to Omaha in the first round of the Summit League Tournament. Mackenzie Hughes, a graduate guard and honorable-mention All-Summit League selection who averaged 12.4 points and 3.2 assists, and Walker Demers, a senior forward who averaged 10.0 points and 7.1 rebounds, are gone. Ava Miller, a sophomore forward who averaged 7.8 points and 7.3 rebounds, left for South Dakota. Mikayla Aumer, a senior guard who averaged 6.0 points, is also gone, along with Skyler Volmer, Finley Ohnstad, Mataeya Mathern, Hanna Miller, Anaiyah Fletcher, and Miranda Vanderwal.
Sydney Piekny, a junior guard, scored 4.7 points and started 14 of 27 games, while Lauren Hillesheim, a sophomore guard, scored 4.4 points and grabbed 2.1 rebounds. London Harris, a sophomore guard, scored 4.2 points and grabbed 2.4 rebounds; Kendra Harvey and Lauren Reardon also return. Addison Klosterbuer, a senior guard, arrived from South Dakota last year but did not play.
Juliana Haddad, a junior forward, comes from Northern Illinois. Abby Duchscherer, a graduate forward, comes from the Alabama softball team. Ciona Wells, a junior guard, comes from Western Oregon, and Jayda Maves, a senior guard, arrives from Western Colorado. Sophomore forward Aliyah Green comes from Butler Community College. The freshmen are guards Maggie Fricke, Mia Jacobson, and Jayden Sonnenberg, and forward Kinley Smith.
North Dakota is eighth because Hughes and Demers, who combined for 22.4 points, are gone, and no returner scored more than 4.7 points. The newcomers are junior college and Division II players and Division I additions who saw little court time, so Hutter has to find scoring where the Fighting Hawks had little last season.
Players to watch: Sydney Piekny, Lauren Hillesheim, London Harris, Ciona Wells
Summit League Round-Up
North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and South Dakota have the strongest cores and the best recent results. North Dakota State returns five of its six leading scorers, South Dakota State brings back Meyer and won last season’s tournament, and South Dakota keeps Joyce and adds four transfers who averaged at least 7.8 points. The gap between the top three is smaller than it might appear.
The rest of the league is harder to sort. St. Thomas has Sand and a new coach; Kansas City has four guards who averaged at least 11.6 points last season, but only two returners, plus a new coach; and Oral Roberts lost its two leading scorers. Omaha and North Dakota both won fewer than eight games. I will watch Koenen and Coleman most closely for their teams’ success: Koenen averaged 19.6 points and 11.2 rebounds while winning both the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards, and Coleman averaged 15.5 points at CSU Bakersfield and now plays in a new league.
Editor’s Note: Records and conference standings reflect the final 2025-26 Summit League 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 28th. Coaching and roster notes reflect known offseason moves as of October 28th. Roster additions may shift rosters before the season opens in November and may affect the order as of this writing.
