Newtown, Pa. (Women's Basketball) - The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom coaches have released their preseason poll ahead of the 2026-27 women's basketball season, and defending conference champion DeSales is the top pick to repeat.
DeSales claimed seven of the nine possible first-place votes and totaled 63 points to top the preseason poll. The Bulldogs enter the season looking to defend the MAC Freedom title they won last February with a 59-51 victory over Stevens, the program's 13th conference championship.
Misericordia was picked second with 52 points and two first-place votes of its own, followed by Lebanon Valley in third with 48 points. Stevens rounds out the top four at 44 points, with Arcadia fifth at 41.
The full preseason order: DeSales (63 points, 7 first-place votes), Misericordia (52, 2), Lebanon Valley (48), Stevens (44), Arcadia (41), Delaware Valley (29), King's and FDU-Florham (tied, 17 each) and Marywood (13).
DeSales finished 2025-26 atop the standings as the No. 1 seed at 11-3 in conference play, while Stevens took the No. 3 seed at 10-4 on its way to the championship game.
2026-27 MAC Freedom Season Preview
DeSales enters the season as the favorite and returns a young core that played a major role in last season's title. Guard Marissa LaVerghetta and forward Aubrey Pollard both earned All-MAC Freedom Honorable Mention honors as sophomores and now head into their junior seasons. Fred Richter, the 2025-26 MAC Freedom Coach of the Year, who earned his 700th career win in the championship game, remains at the helm. First Team guard Lindsay Bednarek, who had 15 points and 12 rebounds in the title game, and Tournament MVP Mikaili Donmoyer were both seniors a year ago. DeSales' season ended with a 68-53 loss to Ohio Wesleyan in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Misericordia and Lebanon Valley sit right behind. Misericordia returns Second Team forward Morgan Janeski, who is a senior this season, along with Honorable Mention guard Emily Romanowski, a junior this year. Lebanon Valley will look to reload after First Team guard Riley Hevelow, Second Team forward Brielle Reidinger and Honorable Mention forward Kailey Eckhart were all seniors a year ago.
Stevens was the No. 3 seed and the runner-up, getting within five points several times in the second half of the title game. Leyla Castro, a First Team guard, and Olivia Schubiger, a Second Team guard who scored 14 points in the title game, were both seniors a year ago. Arcadia is picked fifth. Delaney Bell, the 2025-26 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and Second Team guard Hanna Rhoades were both seniors last season.
Delaware Valley is picked sixth and brings back 2025-26 Rookie of the Year Whitney Evans, a First Team guard who will be a sophomore. Further down the poll, King's and FDU-Florham are tied for seventh. King's returns Honorable Mention guard Cadie Lewis, a senior this season, after fifth-year forward Lauren Casey earned First Team honors last year. Marywood rounds out the poll.
2025-26 MAC Freedom Championship Notes
DeSales entered the 2026 MAC Freedom Championship as the No. 1 seed and won the title on Saturday, February 28, at Billera Hall in Center Valley, Pa., with a 59-51 victory over No. 3 seed Stevens. DeSales led 32-23 at halftime and 46-39 entering the fourth quarter. Donmoyer scored 16 points and was named Tournament MVP, Bednarek recorded the first double-double of her career with 15 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, and Kayla Ishigami added 14. Stevens, which finished 20-7, got 15 points and 10 rebounds from Fiona O'Boyle off the bench and 14 points from Schubiger. The win was also the 700th of Richter's career and earned the Bulldogs the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
2026-27 Season Schedule
- Season opener: November 6, 2026
- Conference play begins: December 2, 2026
- Postseason format: The top five teams in the MAC standings will qualify for the conference tournament
- Play-In Game (No. 4 vs. No. 5): February 22, 2027
- Semifinals: February 24, 2027
- Championship: February 27, 2027