The Hillsdale College women's basketball team enters the 2026-27 season looking to stretch a streak of four straight winning seasons to five and contend in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

The Chargers are expected to finish in the top half of the league according to G-MAC coaches, as Hillsdale was tabbed sixth in the G-MAC Preseason Coaches Poll released on Wednesday afternoon. Hillsdale finished fifth in the G-MAC last season.

Defending champion Northwood was picked to repeat with 10 first place votes despite graduating G-MAC Player of the Year Maeve St. John. Perennial power Ashland was picked to finish runner-up with three first place votes, and a rising Walsh program was picked to finish third. You can find the full poll below.

The Chargers had a solid campaign in 2025-26, posting 15 wins and making the G-MAC Tournament, but will aim higher in 2026-27 with some significant returning talent. The Chargers should have one of the best post tandems in the G-MAC with returning All-Conference honoree Savannah Smith, who averaged 13.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, pairing with 6-foot-2 Ellie Bruce, who averaged 8 points and 4.6 rebounds off the bench and also blocked a team-leading 32 shots.

On the wing, junior Sarah Aleknavicius missed part of the 2025-26 season with an injury but impressed on the court when she could play with breakout offensive numbers, averaging 8.1 point and 3.7 rebounds along with a team-leading 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. She'll be a key player for the Chargers on both ends of the floor this season.

Hillsdale loses two starters but brings back four more players on the perimeter who averaged at least 14 minutes a game in all 27 contests last season. Fifth-year senior Sydney Pnacek has been a contributor for the Chargers for several years and will compete to be a starter this season, while sharpshooter Emilia Sularski is another option on the wing. Last year's point guard tandem of Maddie Smith and Magdalena Sularski returns intact for the Chargers and both players should be greatly improved with a year of significant action under their belts. 

The Chargers have a variety of veteran and second year players who could slot into bigger roles. Maddy Greene will look to lock down a job in the post, while Grace McKinney on the wing and Addison Kincaid,and Katie Graves in the post all got a small taste of action as freshmen last year and could secure significantly bigger roles this season as they grow and improve as college players.

An exciting class of newcomers will push for playing time early, headlined by sophomore guard Jasmine Becotte, a transfer from NCAA DII St. Michael's in Vermont who played significant minutes for the Purple Knights and could be in the mix right away for the Chargers. Hillsdale also adds prolific scoring guards Maya Sonday and Delaney Larson, sharpshooting wing Kate Scharf and talented post player Ella Martin to the mix.

Charger fans will get their first look at the team on Nov. 4, as Hillsdale hosts an exhibition contest against Schoolcraft College at 6 p.m. in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena. Hillsdale's true home opener is Nov. 18 against in-state foe Wayne State, one of six straight home games for the Chargers. Conference play opens for Hillsdale against defending champion Northwood at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3. You can find the full schedule, with ticket links, here.

2026-27 Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Northwood- 141 points (10 first place votes)
2. Ashland-126 points (3 first place votes)
3. Walsh- 123 points
4. Thomas More- 110 points
5. Findlay- 91 points
6. Hillsdale- 88 points
7. Kentucky Wesleyan- 86 points
8. Malone- 77 points
9. Cedarville- 53 points
10. Ohio Dominican- 47 points
11. Tiffin- 34 points
12. Lake Erie- 21 points
13. Ursuline- 17 points