The United Athletic Conference begins play in 2026-27 with nine teams: five from the ASUN, three from the WAC, and Little Rock from the Ohio Valley. North Alabama is the only team with a new head coach, as Anna Nimz arrives from Northwestern State, and almost every roster has been rebuilt. Abilene Christian is the exception, returning five of its six leading scorers, while North Alabama, Tarleton State, and UT Arlington turned over most of their rosters.
The Big Picture
These nine teams played in three leagues last season. Eastern Kentucky won the ASUN regular season at 15-3, ahead of Jacksonville and Central Arkansas at 13-5, then lost 45-41 to Austin Peay in the quarterfinals. Austin Peay, which finished eighth, won two more road games and lost 66-63 in overtime at Jacksonville in the final. North Alabama tied for fifth at 11-7 and West Georgia was seventh at 10-8. Abilene Christian finished second in the WAC at 13-5 behind California Baptist, lost 74-58 to the Lancers in the final, then won a WNIT game before losing in the third round. Tarleton State was fifth at 7-11, UT Arlington tied for sixth at 4-14, and Little Rock finished fifth in the Ohio Valley at 11-9 before losing in the first round of that tournament.
Only five of the 10 players from these teams who made the All-ASUN or All-WAC first or second teams are back: Eastern Kentucky’s Liz Freihofer, West Georgia’s Sydne Tolbert, Central Arkansas’ Cheyanne Kemp, and Abilene Christian’s Payton Hull and Erin Woodson. Hull was the WAC Player of the Year, but the ASUN Newcomer of the Year, Eastern Kentucky’s Joseana Vaz, and the Defensive Player of the Year, Central Arkansas’ Bree Stephens, are gone. Roughly 80 of the 121 players on the nine rosters are newcomers, and Abilene Christian and Central Arkansas are the only teams that return more players than they add.
Skim Milkey’s Predicted 2026-27 Order of Finish
1 - Abilene Christian
2 - Central Arkansas
3 - Austin Peay
4 - Eastern Kentucky
5 - West Georgia
6 - Little Rock
7 - UT Arlington
8 - North Alabama
9 - Tarleton State
Skim Milkey’s Preseason All-UAC Team
Emma Troxell, F, Abilene Christian
Erin Woodson, G, Abilene Christian
Meredith Mayes, C, Abilene Christian
Payton Hull, G, Abilene Christian
Destiny Jones, G/F, Austin Peay
Jim’Miyah Branton, G, Austin Peay
Veronaye Charlton, G, Austin Peay
Cheyanne Kemp, G, Central Arkansas
Jenna Cook, G, Central Arkansas
Tiani Ellison, F, Central Arkansas
Kenleigh Woods, G, Eastern Kentucky
Liz Freihofer, G, Eastern Kentucky
Brynn Lusby, F, North Alabama
Jalyn Brown, G, UT Arlington
Sydne Tolbert, G, West Georgia
Abilene Christian
Record: 24-11, 13-5 WAC (2nd, WNIT appearance)
Coach: Julie Goodenough, 15th season, 274-154 (33rd overall, 563-374)
Abilene Christian finished second in the WAC at 13-5, beat UT Arlington 70-50 in the conference tournament semifinals, and lost 74-58 to California Baptist in the final. The Wildcats then beat Florida International 77-66 in the second round of the WNIT and lost 59-55 at Illinois State in the third round. Breanna Davis, a senior guard who averaged 5.4 points, is the only notable departure, and Jordyn Coleman and Bree Riley are also gone.
Abilene Christian returns ten players, and Payton Hull, a senior guard and WAC Player of the Year, scored 17.8 points and started all 32 games. Meredith Mayes, a senior center, scored 15.4 points and grabbed 8.2 rebounds in 13 games, and Erin Woodson, a senior guard and second-team All-WAC selection, scored 13.9 points. Emma Troxell, a senior forward, scored 9.3 points, and Natalia Chavez, a redshirt senior guard, scored 7.9 points. Jazmyn Stone, Riley Grohman, Aimee Flippen, Molly Daugherty, and Emma Daugherty also return.
Raimi McCrary, a senior forward from Incarnate Word, scored 6.8 points and started 26 of 27 games. Samara Morrow, a junior guard, arrives from the College of Southern Idaho, and Salena Carrasco, a guard, is the lone freshman.
I have Abilene Christian first because this roster does not need a rebuild. Hull, Mayes, Woodson, and Troxell are all seniors who scored at least 9.3 points, and McCrary gives Goodenough a forward with starting experience. My only concern is depth, since Mayes played just 13 games last season and the returning bench players scored very little.
Players to watch: Payton Hull, Meredith Mayes, Erin Woodson, Emma Troxell
Central Arkansas
Record: 21-11, 13-5 ASUN (2nd, tie)
Coach: Tony Kemper, 4th season, 65-33 (10th overall, 144-123)
Central Arkansas finished tied with Jacksonville for second at 13-5, beat North Alabama 67-56 in the ASUN Tournament quarterfinals, and lost 67-58 at Jacksonville in the semifinals. Shae Littleford, a senior guard and second-team All-ASUN selection who averaged 14.2 points, is gone, along with Bree Stephens, a senior forward, third-team selection, and Defensive Player of the Year who averaged 10.2 points and 7.5 rebounds. Julianna Gibson, Kamryn Griffin, Carla Ramirez, and Kaidyn Beckwith are also gone.
Eight players return, led by Cheyanne Kemp, a senior guard and second-team All-ASUN selection who scored 12.7 points and started all 30 games. Jenna Cook, a junior guard, scored 8.5 points, and Paris Santacaterina, a senior guard, scored 6.0 points and started 28 of 29 games. Laylah Reese, a senior guard, scored 5.3 points. Linda Amaning, Emerie Bohanon, Alexis Cox, and Alivia Cox also return.
Tiani Ellison, a redshirt junior forward from East Texas A&M, scored 15.5 points and started 22 of 24 games. Layla-J Cameron, a senior guard, arrives from Tulsa; Logan Young, a sophomore guard, comes from Arkansas Tech; and the freshmen are guard Faith McCallop, guard Sami Shaeffer, and forward Avery Mier.
Ellison is the reason I have Central Arkansas second. She scored 15.5 points in a different league, and Kemp, Cook, and Santacaterina give Kemper three guards who already know his system. The real question is the post, because Stephens was the defensive anchor, and this roster only has Ellison with production in the post.
Players to watch: Cheyanne Kemp, Tiani Ellison, Jenna Cook, Paris Santacaterina
Austin Peay
Record: 19-14, 8-10 ASUN (8th, WNIT appearance)
Coach: Brittany Young, 6th season, 86-73
Austin Peay finished eighth at 8-10, then beat Lipscomb 63-56 in the first round of the ASUN Tournament, won 45-41 at Eastern Kentucky in the quarterfinals, and won 68-52 at Stetson in the semifinals before losing 66-63 in overtime at Jacksonville in the final. The Governors then lost 71-59 to UT Rio Grande Valley in the WNIT first round. Anovia Sheals, a sophomore guard who averaged 13.9 points, left for George Mason, and Mya Williams, a senior guard who averaged 8.1 points, is gone. Kyra Perkins, a junior guard who averaged 7.0 points, left for Georgia Southern; JaNiah Newell, a senior guard who averaged 6.2 points, is gone; and Lameria Thomas, a junior forward who averaged 5.0 points, is gone. Ines Gnahore, Maeva Fotsa, and Jeanine Brandsma are also gone.
The Governors bring back four players, including senior guard Veronaye Charlton, who scored 11.2 points in eight games. Jim’Miyah Branton, a sophomore guard and All-Freshman Team selection, scored 10.7 points and started 28 of 31 games, and Jade Rucker, a sophomore guard, scored 6.2 points. McKenzie Neal also returns.
Clearia Peterson, a junior forward from Alabama State, scored 8.1 points and grabbed 7.4 rebounds, and Destiny Jones, a junior guard/forward from West Georgia, scored 11.3 points and grabbed 8.8 rebounds. Peighton Jambor, a senior guard/forward, is from Allen; Tish Blackwood, a sophomore guard, is from Southern Connecticut State; and Kiara Croskey, a junior guard, is from Francis Marion. Kaycee Steinke, a junior guard from New Mexico Junior College, is the junior college addition. The freshmen are guards Andrea Guilford, Brilee Price, Franziska Kelly, and Jasia Ross.
Size is what changes this team. Peterson and Jones both rebounded at a high level last season, and they join two guards who scored in double figures. The question is scoring, because Sheals averaged 13.9 points and no one on this roster has matched that.
Players to watch: Jim’Miyah Branton, Destiny Jones, Clearia Peterson, Veronaye Charlton
Eastern Kentucky
Record: 25-9, 15-3 ASUN (1st, WBIT appearance)
Coach: Greg Todd, 6th season, 101-63 (21st overall, 363-233)
Eastern Kentucky won the ASUN regular season at 15-3 and lost 45-41 to Austin Peay in the conference tournament quarterfinals. The Colonels then won 72-58 at Utah in the first round of the WBIT and lost 63-34 at Harvard in the second round. Joseana Vaz, a senior forward, first-team All-ASUN selection, and Newcomer of the Year who averaged 14.2 points, is gone, along with Ndidiamaka Ndukwe, a senior guard and Sixth Woman of the Year who averaged 9.8 points, and Althea Kara Angeles, a senior guard who averaged 9.3 points. Ella Bradley, a senior forward who averaged 5.4 points, is gone; Madison Lewis left for Purdue Fort Wayne; and Jasmine Jordan, Zyniah Thomas, and Love Mays are also gone.
Eastern Kentucky has three returners, and Liz Freihofer, a junior guard and first-team All-ASUN selection, scored 11.6 points and started all 32 games. Kenleigh Woods, a sophomore guard and All-Freshman Team selection, scored 10.4 points and started 31 of 32 games, and Kailani Lindsey, a senior forward, scored 5.5 points.
Kirsten Lewis-Williams, a senior guard from South Florida, Michelle Ugwah, a redshirt junior forward from San Francisco, Rylee Kalocay, a sophomore guard from Kent State, and Nicole Fritea, a sophomore forward from Maryland, come from Division I. Brooke Nichelson, a redshirt freshman guard from Murray State, did not play last season. Elyse Autrey, a junior guard, arrives from Augusta. Luna Ueda, a junior guard from Casper College, is the junior college addition, and Kiera Healy, a guard, is the lone freshman.
Freihofer and Woods are why I have this team in the top four. One is a first-team All-ASUN selection, and the other made the All-Freshman Team, and both started nearly every game. None of the four Division I transfers who played last season averaged 5.0 points, which is why I have the Colonels fourth and not second.
Players to watch: Liz Freihofer, Kenleigh Woods, Kailani Lindsey, Kirsten Lewis-Williams
West Georgia
Record: 18-13, 10-8 ASUN (7th)
Coach: Joanna Reitz, 5th season, 60-59
West Georgia finished seventh at 10-8, beat North Florida 76-71 in overtime in the first round of the ASUN Tournament, and lost 86-77 at Jacksonville in the quarterfinals. Asia Donald, a sophomore guard who averaged 15.0 points, left for St. John’s, and Jasmine Jones, a senior forward who averaged 13.3 points, is gone. Destiny Jones, a sophomore guard/forward who averaged 11.3 points and 8.8 rebounds, left for Austin Peay, and Gal-la Font, Calie Thrower, Anya McKenzie, Tayah Morgan, Becca Ledford, Riley Black, and Georgia Gray are also gone.
Only two players are back, and Sydne Tolbert, a senior guard and first-team All-ASUN selection, scored 15.0 points and started all 29 games. Grace O’Gara, a senior guard, scored 9.7 points and started all 28 games.
Ongolea Afu, a senior forward, arrives from UNLV, Meghan Gentile, a junior guard, comes from New Jersey City, and Trishay Collins, a redshirt freshman forward from Seton Hall, did not play last season. The junior college additions are Areille Marc, a sophomore forward from Florida SouthWestern State College, and Jayla Rankin, a junior guard from Triton College. The freshmen are guards Liyah Williams, Mya Jones, and Parris Parham, and forward Kobi Barnes.
The backcourt is the only part of this roster I trust yet. Tolbert and O’Gara both started every game last season, and both are seniors. I have doubts about the frontcourt because the two leading scorers up front are gone, and no newcomer has been a Division I scorer.
Players to watch: Sydne Tolbert, Grace O’Gara, Ongolea Afu, Meghan Gentile
Little Rock
Record: 15-16, 11-9 OVC (5th)
Coach: Steve Wiedower, 3rd season, 29-32
Little Rock finished fifth in the Ohio Valley at 11-9 and lost 68-65 to Southeast Missouri State in the first round of the conference tournament. Jordan Holman, a senior forward who averaged 18.0 points and 7.3 rebounds, is gone, along with Destinee Salgado, a sophomore forward who averaged 8.2 points and left for Charlotte, and Alaina Payne, a senior guard who averaged 6.6 points. Jarahle Daniels left for Bethune-Cookman, and Taelor Coxford, Naomi Smitherman, and Ashley Lester are also gone.
Little Rock brings back five players, starting with Brenna Burk, a junior guard who scored 8.5 points and started 28 of 29 games, and Mya Cotto, a senior guard who scored 7.8 points and started 23 of 29. Lidia Belmonte Hurtado, Pearson McVay, and Blessing Teamer also return.
Talia Kemp, a junior point guard from Mercer, scored 6.8 points and started 26 of 28 games, and Senoj Jones, a sophomore post from New Mexico State, scored 5.4 points. Tyla Fautua, a junior post from Pacific, and Atreonia Garner, a senior forward from Clark Atlanta, join the team. Malon Smith, a sophomore point guard from Walters State Community College, and Neso Anisiobi, a junior forward from Weatherford College, are the junior college additions. Payton Futch, a guard, Rakiya Nelson, a redshirt freshman forward, and Aaliyah Taylor, a redshirt freshman guard, round out the group.
The case for sixth is the guards. Burk, Cotto, and Kemp each started most of their games last season, and I would not put Little Rock lower with that group. The problem is the post, because Holman scored 18.0 points and grabbed 7.3 rebounds, and Senoj Jones is the only post on the roster who scored at least 5.0 points last season.
Players to watch: Brenna Burk, Talia Kemp, Mya Cotto, Senoj Jones
UT Arlington
Record: 12-21, 4-14 WAC (6th, tie)
Coach: Shereka Wright, 7th season, 94-83
UT Arlington finished tied for sixth at 4-14, beat Utah Tech 77-73 in the first round of the WAC Tournament and Southern Utah 70-65 in the quarterfinals, and lost 70-50 to Abilene Christian in the semifinals. Kira Reynolds, a freshman forward and All-Freshman Team selection who averaged 13.0 points and 7.9 rebounds, left for Colorado, and Nya Threatt, a senior guard who averaged 9.1 points, is gone. Jadyn Atchison, a junior guard who averaged 8.2 points, left for Appalachian State; Mila Reynolds, a junior forward who averaged 6.7 points, left for New Mexico; and Kali Haizlip, a senior guard who averaged 5.9 points, is gone. Kendal Robinson, a sophomore guard who averaged 5.7 points, left for Wichita State, and Alexsyah Goudeau, Laura Bello, Erin Sellers, and Jeanne Rodriguez are also gone.
Two players are back: Miraya Perkins, a redshirt junior forward, and Amiyah Reynolds, a redshirt junior guard. Neither scored 5.0 points or more last season.
Jalyn Brown, a fifth-year guard from Michigan State, scored 11.1 points and started 19 of 32 games. Liz Murphy, a junior guard from Akron, scored 5.4 points. Morane Dossou, a senior forward from New Mexico State, Nisaa Muhammad, a junior guard from Old Dominion, and Faith Carson, a junior forward from Grand Canyon, are the other Division I transfers. Chelsea Bishop, a junior guard from Florida SouthWestern State College, Jemima Yowa, a junior forward from Ranger College, Katelyn Brinkley, a junior forward from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Keshanti Gordon, a junior guard from Murray State College, and Amaya Williams, a junior guard from Lamar Community College, are the junior college additions. The freshmen are guards Ahniyah Bennett, Ava Raymond, and Journee Hampton.
Jalyn Brown is the reason I have UT Arlington seventh and not lower. She scored 11.1 points in the Big Ten and started 19 of 32 games, and Liz Murphy is the only other newcomer who scored at least 5.0 points at a Division I school. Everything else is an unknown, from the two returners to the junior college group and the freshmen, and one proven scorer is not enough for me to go any higher.
Players to watch: Jalyn Brown, Liz Murphy, Morane Dossou, Nisaa Muhammad
North Alabama
Record: 17-14, 11-7 ASUN (5th, tie)
Coach: Anna Nimz, 1st season, 0-0 (15th overall, career record unconfirmed)
North Alabama finished tied for fifth at 11-7, beat Queens 57-55 in the first round of the ASUN Tournament, and lost 67-56 at Central Arkansas in the quarterfinals. The school hired Nimz away from Northwestern State on March 26. Alexsandra Alvarado, a senior guard and second-team All-ASUN selection who averaged 14.0 points, is gone, along with Sofia Ceppellotti, a sophomore forward who averaged 11.6 points and left for Texas State, and Katie Criswell, a junior guard who averaged 8.7 points and left for Belmont. Cameron McNamara, a junior forward who averaged 8.4 points in five games, left for Bryant; India Howard, a senior forward who averaged 8.4 points, is gone; and Gabby Jackson, a freshman forward and All-Freshman Team selection who averaged 7.8 points, left for South Dakota. Bukky Akinsola, a senior guard who averaged 5.8 points, is gone, as are Alyssa Clutter and Jazzy Klinge.
Three players are back: Venla Ulander, a junior center, Greta Ramon, a sophomore guard, and Brooke Hallman, a sophomore guard. None of them scored 5.0 points or more last season.
Brynn Lusby, a junior forward from Incarnate Word, scored 10.9 points, and Kyah Smith, a senior guard from William & Mary, scored 5.7 points. Marckalia Celestine, a sophomore center, arrives from Prairie View A&M; Vera Gunaydin, a graduate guard, comes from Gonzaga; Phoebe Holmes, a junior guard, comes from Xavier; Amy Kurkowski, a junior forward, comes from Saint Mary’s; and Joceline Geara, a junior guard, followed Nimz from Northwestern State. The junior college additions are Ella Macleod, a junior guard from Collin College, and Zamyra Wallace, a junior guard from Wallace State Community College. The freshmen are center Emma D’Este and guards Mária Štefancova and Olivia Tredrea.
Nimz built almost the whole roster herself, and only Lusby and Smith have a 5.0-point season at the Division I level. That is why I have North Alabama eighth, ahead of only Tarleton State. Lusby scored 10.9 points at Incarnate Word, and how she handles being the first option in a new league will decide whether the Lions climb.
Players to watch: Brynn Lusby, Kyah Smith, Marckalia Celestine, Vera Gunaydin
Tarleton State
Record: 14-17, 7-11 WAC (5th)
Coach: Bill Brock, 4th season, 45-51 (18th overall, 444-106)
Tarleton State finished fifth at 7-11, beat Utah Valley 60-57 in the WAC Tournament quarterfinals, and lost 77-60 to California Baptist in the semifinals. Jakoriah Long, a senior guard and second-team All-WAC selection who averaged 11.8 points, is gone, along with Gia Adams, a senior guard who averaged 11.7 points. Elodie Lutbert, a freshman forward who averaged 10.5 points and 7.8 rebounds and made the All-Freshman and All-Defensive teams, left for Houston, and Shadasia Brackens, a junior forward who averaged 8.2 points, left for Old Dominion. Kyriana Jones, a senior guard who averaged 7.7 points, is gone; Mar’Cyah Willis left for Sam Houston; Allie Myers left for Drake; and Luka Malinka, Tessa Engelman, Alexis Rynders, Jaylynn Perez-Richard, and Jailynn Brill are also gone.
Only three players return, and Caroline Lyles, a fifth-year guard, scored 5.3 points and started 13 of 24 games. Kristian Hieskill and Nyah Buntun, both sophomore guards, also return.
Astrid Mukulumpe, a junior forward from FIU, Jovana Spasovski, a senior guard/forward from Wisconsin, Lucia Navarro, a senior guard from Oregon State, Rose Boisnel, a junior forward from Utah Tech, Brooklyn King, a sophomore guard from Furman, and Olivia Medford, a fifth-year guard from High Point, come from Division I. Lesline Salim Penge, a junior center from Cochise College, and Stephany Gonçalves, a senior guard from Eastern Arizona College, are the junior college additions. The freshmen are guards Kendall Ford and Marie Diame and forward Alayna Yates.
Ninth is about a lack of evidence. Lyles scored 5.3 points, and no other returner or Division I transfer scored more. There are a lot of unknowns and some players who haven't stepped up will need to step up to pull Tarleton State out of the basement.
Players to watch: Caroline Lyles, Jovana Spasovski, Rose Boisnel, Olivia Medford
UAC Round-Up
Abilene Christian is the clear first choice, with Central Arkansas and Austin Peay as the next strongest contenders. Central Arkansas returns Kemp, Cook, and Santacaterina and adds Ellison, while Austin Peay returns Branton and Charlton and adds two proven rebounders, Peterson and Jones. Eastern Kentucky and West Georgia each have an All-ASUN first-team player back but need more around her.
The bottom of the league has changed a lot. North Alabama has a new coach and 12 newcomers, UT Arlington has 13 newcomers and two returners, and Tarleton State and Little Rock have to replace their leading scorers. I could be way off on several of these teams, especially Eastern Kentucky, West Georgia, and UT Arlington, as this is a brand new league.
