Here we are again - on the brink of a brand new season. And with it comes hopes, dreams and expectations that aren't always met by everyone involved. Still, there's a lot of excitement as always as we embark on a new beginning so I suppose that it's time for me to break out that old, cracked crystal ball of mine and lay out my fearless predictions for the 2025-26 season.
Title Contenders
1. Bethel
2. GAC
What a season it was for the Royals last year. Even though the early part of the schedule for them was arguably something of a roller coaster ride, Bethel recovered once conference play started and would suffer only one blemish on its way to a regular season co-championship with GAC. And although the Gusties would take the rubber match in the MIAC Championship Game, the Royals got their invite to the Big Dance and would claim a first round win over DePauw before falling to eventual Final Four participant UW-Oshkosh in the second round. Despite the loss of two talented graduate seniors to graduation (Lydia Hay and Anna Garfield), the 2025-26 roster is loaded. Leading the way for the Royals this season is 5th year senior forward Elly Schmitz who was named to the D3 Hoops Preseason Second Team All America squad who can score, rebound and play defense not to mention provide excellent leadership on the floor as well. Another senior on this Bethel team who doesn't get the recognition she deserves is point guard Colette Duininck who can be an absolute pest on defense for opponents and can also come through in the clutch on the offensive end and is an excellent facilitator as well. Providing stability and strength in the backcourt is senior combo guard/forward Rosalie Penke who's not afraid to mix it up down low and her 78 total rebounds from last season reflects that. Three more players that Head Coach Jon Herbrechtsmeyer can interchange frequently that helps make the Bethel front court so formidable include senior combo guard/forward Ali Born, junior forward Emily Erickson and junior forward Cally Peterson. Junior guard Macey Littlefield gained valuable experience last season getting quality minutes off the bench but perhaps the most intriguing piece to this Bethel team is fifth-year senior guard Lexi Schermann who sat out last year after four seasons at GAC. With her ability and experience, she'll almost certainly figure prominently in the overall scheme of things for the Royals. And Bethel certainly isn't shying away from competition this year with early tilts against quality teams as they take a trip to Menomonie, WI to face UW-Stout of the WIAC; one of the Final Four participants from last season on Wednesday (11-12) and twelve days after that, the Royals take the dreaded trip up US Highway 10 and the BNSF Staples Sub mainline to Moorhead to face conference rival Concordia. Three more conference games follow and then the Royals face three more big-time opponents - hosting UW-River Falls out of the WIAC on Saturday (12-13) before a trip to Wisconsin Dells where they'll take on another WIAC team that made the Dance last season - UW-La Crosse on Friday (12-19) and the following day (Saturday 12-20) they'll face Coe which is favored to win the ARC this season. If that wasn't enough, then the Royals head down to Kissimmee, FL right before the first of the year where they'll face two more NCAA Tournament teams from last year - Messiah (out of the MACC) on Sunday 12-28 and then Illinois Wesleyan (out of the CCIW) on Monday 12-29. So with all that, you can bet that Herbrechtsmeyer, his staff and team will want to come back with more than just suntans as they'll delve back into conference play at GAC on Saturday (1-3).
What can you say about a team with a group of three fifth-year seniors and three four-year seniors that battled through so much adversity over the years, won FOUR straight MIAC Championship Games and FINALLY made that long-awaited deep run in the Dance last season. Even though you hated to see it all come to an end in the Elite Eight, this GAC program has made its way into the elite status of D3 Women's Basketball thanks to this fabulous group - Emma Kniefel, Izzy Quick, Syd Hauger, Kylie Baranick, Morgan Kelly and Rachel Kawiecki. Now comes a new era; a new beginning of sorts and a lot of questions to be answered now that this group has graduated. But all is not doom and gloom down in St. Peter as a new crop of players are now poised to try and pick up from where they left off. The key elements of this new group appear to include junior guard Peyton Stevermer, sophomore guard Olivia Grothaus, junior forward Whitley Ronn, junior guard Ella Peters, junior guard Kendyl Queensland and (now) sophomore sensation point guard Anna Goodman who has some serious, serious swag. Senior guard Bobbie Bruns and junior guard Kaitlyn Schaefer also provide depth along with stability and experience in the backcourt for Head Coach Laurie Kelly so it's not exactly like the cupboard is bare here. At the same time, there are also a lot of new unproven pieces to this team so I'm not going to be shocked or surprised if there's a few blips early on in the season. And you look at the very early portion of the schedule and you can easily see where there might possibly be a few blips as the Gusties open the season in Milwaukee - first taking on Wisconsin Lutheran which will almost certainly be looking for some payback after the first round NCAA Tournament loss to GAC on Friday 11-14 and then DePauw out of the NCAC the next day on Saturday 11-15. Then UW-River Falls from the WIAC comes to St. Peter on Wednesday 11-19 before the Gusties face Bethany Lutheran in Mankato on Tuesday 11-25. Three conference games follow before GAC faces two more formidable opponents from the WIAC at home in St. Peter - UW-Eau Claire on Saturday 12-13 and then UW-Whitewater on Tuesday 12-30. So the Gusties will get their mettle tested early. However, I feel strongly that this is a team that will get better and better as the season progresses and will at the very least be the biggest challenger to Bethel for conference honors.
Solid MIAC Playoff Contenders
3. Concordia
4. CSB
5. Hamline
I have to think that there's little question that the one team that's simply itching to make amends from last season's disappointing finish is Concordia. Last year's team was a squad that would look like world-beaters one day and then totally lost on another. Even securing the fourth seed in the MIAC Playoffs wasn't enough as the Cobbers would fall to CSB in the quarterfinal round. Then you look at the losses to graduation that Concordia had - Makayla Anderson, Carlee Sieben, Jordyn Kahler and Greta Tollefson - and at first glance it'd look like that the Cobbers were totally starting from scratch again. However, the prospects brightened considerably up in Fargo-Moorhead during the offseason with the addition of incoming players who transferred in; most notably Maya Metcalf from DII Moorhead St. along with Tatum Findley who was at CSB last season. Along with that, you also have a pretty solid core of returning players such as senior guards Molly Musland and Taylor Safranski and junior forward Genevieve Gruba. Senior guard Taya Jeffrey got quality minutes last season as a junior and provides depth and experience in the backcourt. The youngsters from last year - Peyton Breidenbach and Brooklyn Christianson could both be big for Head Coach Kim Wagers; particularly Breidenbach who's coming back from a knee injury suffered last season. Players like sophomore forward Kaia Gack and junior forward Maci Wheeldon bring the length that help make Wagers' front court that much more formidable. All in all, I feel considerably better about this team and its immediate future than I did, say, five or six months ago and one might be able to make the argument that this team could forge its way into title contention if all these pieces come together and work they way they should. I just want to take a somewhat more cautious approach with this team and see how things unfold for them in November and December before I start making any wild predictions here. The Cobbers certainly aren't shying away from competition as notable early non-conference matchups have both UW-River Falls and UW-Stout out of the WIAC making trips up US Highway 10 and the BNSF Staples Sub mainline on Saturday 11-15 and Sunday 11-16, respectively. Just before Thanksgiving on Tuesday 11-25, Bethel pays a visit to cavernous Memorial Auditorium and just before the first of the year, Concordia makes a trip to Texas where they'll take on two teams out of the ASC - Howard Payne on Sunday 12-28 and then host Hardin-Simmons the next day on Monday 12-29 before delving back into conference play.
Things were looking very good for CSB last season as the Bennies were in good shape with a solid 9-2 record right around the first of the year. But then CSB went into a tailspin with a four-game skid that had them between a rock and a hard place at quite possibly the worst time of the season. Still, to their credit, the Bennies recovered with an impressive 5-game win streak and even though it was a bit of a rough patch down the stretch, CSB still finished 11-7 in conference play and would pull off a big upset of Concordia in the quarterfinal round before bowing to Bethel in the semifinals. And, to be sure, the Bennies lost some very good pieces to graduation or the transfer portal - Morgan Chmielewski (who was out the whole season after suffering a preseason knee injury), Sophia Jonas, Tatum Findley (now at Concordia) and Olivia Boily (now a 5th year grad senior at UW-River Falls). Fortunately for Head Coach Mike Durbin, he's got some very good pieces back including senior wing/guard Megan Morgan who can slay you from downtown and fellow senior wing/guard Megan Driste. Senior combo forward/post Kira Young is capable of swatting away shots down low and sophomore point guard Lauren Arnold showed a lot of promise last year. There's also a very solid group of younger players on this team that deserve mention and will likely figure into the overall scheme of things for the Bennies including sophomore guards Natalie Gates, Alyssa Sadlovsky and Drew Buslee along with junior wing/guard Emily Crandall. In the front court, junior the junior twin sister duo of Cora Beeler and Ella Beeler along with junior post Kristen Hilbert and freshman forward Annika Schafer provide some much needed depth down low. Like Concordia, one might be able to make the argument that this squad could find themselves in the title mix if things go right for them. The early part of the schedule is interesting as a big game looms this Wednesday night (11-12) as UW-Eau Claire out of the WIAC pays a visit. Then this weekend CSB makes a trip down to US Highway 30 and the Union Pacific Overland Route mainline at Mount Vernon, IA (Cornell) as they'll take on two opponents out of the ARC - Dubuque on Saturday 11-15 and then Nebraska Wesleyan on Sunday 11-16. Thanksgiving weekend will find the Bennies out along the Front Range in Colorado Springs, CO where they'll take on two teams from the NCAA Tournament last season: host Colorado College out of the SCAC on Friday 11-28 and then Whitman out of the NWC on Saturday 11-29 so CSB will have a big opportunity to build that NPI ranking early on. But again, can the Bennies avoid some of the pitfalls that held them back last season?
And you have to absolutely include Hamline in this grouping as well. Head Coach Joshua Hersch has so many different offensive weapons at his disposal that it's downright scary when you stand back and take a look at what he has. Leading the way once again for the Pipers will be senior guard Camille Cummings who can take a blow torch to opponents with her three-point shooting prowess. Fellow senior combo guard/forward Sophie Stork can both score and rebound as can fellow senior combo guard/forward Josie Wiebusch. Junior combo guard/forward Anna Rynkiewich is starting to come into her own and junior guard Lauren Cooper is always a threat on the offensive end. And I would guess that junior forward Marina LaFreniere is poised to step up her game as well. The thing with Hamline is that this is a team that has been hovering in playoff contention for the last few years now but once in, they've never been able to take that proverbial next step to where they can actually contend for a MIAC title. Can this year's version take that next step? I honestly don't know although my guess here is that with the teams I have listed above them, it's going to be a hard row to hoe. If you look at the Pipers schedule, they're not exactly doing themselves any favors SOS-wise with the non-conference section as games with three UMAC opponents - at Northwestern (tonight 11-11), UW-Superior at home on Saturday 11-15 and at Martin Luther on Wednesday 11-19 gets things started. However, one WIAC opponent is the exception to this as UW-Stout pays a visit to venerable Hutton Arena on Tuesday 11-25. Then three conference games are on the slate - GAC on Wednesday 12-3, Macalester on Saturday 12-6 and then a trip down US Highway 61 and the CPKC River Sub mainline to Winona to take on SMU on Wednesday 12-10. One more roadie before Christmas break as the Pipers go down US Highway 169 and the Union Pacific Mankato Sub to take on Bethany Lutheran at Mankato on Saturday 12-13. Then, right before the first of the year the Pipers head out to the Motherland in suburban Claremont, CA to take on two SCIAC opponents - host Claremont-Mudd Scripps on Sunday 12-28 and then Pomona-Pitzer on Tuesday 12-30. If the Pipers can come out of this early stretch and get dinged only once, they at least give themselves a chance.
Fighting For That Sixth Spot
6. SMU
7. St. Scholastica
8. St. Kate's
The Cardinals shocked everyone last season (including yours truly) by coming out of nowhere to snare the sixth spot last season and, in the process, pull some upsets along the way in doing so - particularly knocking off Concordia up in Moorhead - and second year Head Coach Courtney Shelton hopes that trend will continue this next season and then some. The first thing that grabs you when you look at this roster is how incredibly young this team is - two seniors and a bunch of youngsters but it's the young ones that are already making a name for themselves and I expect that trend to continue this season. Leading the way for SMU this season will likely revolve around two of these youngsters: Sophomore guard Brianna Nusbaum and fellow sophomore forward Rylie Sternquist. But the Cardinals also have other pieces to augment this duo. Junior forward Kali Olson had a solid year last season and sophomore combo guard/forward Julia Koch can make things happen on both ends of the floor. One of those seniors, guard Lindsey Lettner, brings much-needed experience to help guide this young group. SMU arguably had the element of surprise working for them last season so while that element is gone, they are still a very confident group that could do some significant damage this season. The Cardinals easily dispatched North Central of the UMAC last night but a much, much tougher task awaits SMU as UW-La Crosse out of the WIAC makes the quick run up US Highway 61 and the CPKC River Sub mainline to take on the Cardinals on Saturday 11-15. The Cardinals travel to St. Bonifacius to take on Crown on Wednesday 11-19 before hosting another UMAC opponent - Bethany Lutheran - on Saturday 11-22. What's really interesting is that SMU goes to Platteville, WI on Thanksgiving weekend to first take on Grinnell out of the MWC on Saturday 11-29 and then Simpson out of the ARC on Sunday 11-30 so the Cardinals are going to have to make the most out of the early portion of the schedule before delving back into conference play.
Things were looking very good for St. Scholastica and their playoff hopes last season until February came around and things quickly went to hell in a handbasket for the Saints. But the good news for Head Coach Jason Schmitz is that he returns all three of his leading scorers from last season - junior forward Kloey Lind, sophomore guard Ava Haus and fellow sophomore guard Evie Schmitz. Like SMU, this is a very young team as well with only one senior - guard Jackie Johnson. Undoubtedly, Jason Schmitz will rely on junior guard Jada Bierschbach and fellow junior guard Savannah Schlueter to provide depth and stability. One youngster who might rise up and prove to be a huge addition to this St. Scholastica roster is freshman guard Ryaan Speer. The Saints have already recorded a couple of wins thus far against two UMAC opponents this last weekend - Bethany Lutheran and UM-Morris but they have a huge date tomorrow night (Wednesday 11-12) against another UMAC opponent as UW-Superior makes the short hop across the western end of Gitche Gumee to Reif Gym. Another notable opponent will be waiting in the wings after that as the Saints travel to take on UW-Eau Claire out of the WIAC on Tuesday 11-18. Three winnable conference games at home (on paper anyway) await before St. Scholastica takes a pre-Christmas trip to California where they'll take on two teams out of the SCIAC - California Lutheran on Saturday 12-20 and then Chapman on Sunday 12-21. So, like SMU, it'll be important for the Saints to delve into MIAC play after the first of the year with a full head of steam.
St. Kate's appeared to be making a late push down the stretch last season before two late regular season losses killed their chances of making the MIAC Playoffs. The Wildcats may very well be making another uphill trip this season but if there was ever a coaching staff and team that can find ways to do more with less, it's St. Kate's. Head Coach Don Mulhern welcomes back two of his top scorers from last season; do-it-all junior guard Hattie Fox and rising star sophomore guard Jordyn Peed. But in addition to the players he lost to graduation from last season (Greta Schimnowski, Rachel Randleman and Maddy Manger), there are three others that aren't back this season - Kaylee Miron, Emme Golembiewski and Maddie Young - that's forced Mulhern and his staff to tinker with his lineup. But that's not to say that there aren't other pieces on this team that aren't able to step up - there's definitely some who are more than ready to step to the plate and make their presence known. Junior forward Lily Peper, senior guard Kristen Oberle and junior post Julia Harmon are all poised and ready to fill the void. Sophomore forward Elle Covey along with fellow sophomore guard Raya Cassidy could also figure heavily into the equation for this team this season as well. In what seems to be a recurring theme year after year for this team, Mulhern will have to develop depth quickly and stay relatively injury-free as well if the 'Cats hope to position themselves for a playoff run. With two early wins under their belt already, it would behoove St. Kate's to take advantage of this good start to finish off the early part of the schedule on a good note. The Wildcats go on the road for two games against UMAC opponents this week - at UM-Morris on Friday 11-14 and at Martin Luther on Saturday 11-15. The first conference game of the season will have the 'Cats taking the dreaded trip up US Highway 10 and the BNSF's Staples Sub mainline to Moorhead on Wednesday 11-19 before an interesting run down to the Quad Cities at Rock Island, IL where they'll first take on host Augustana out of the CCIW on Friday 11-21 and then will take on either Concordia (Wisconsin) out of the NACC or Greenville out of the SLIAC. Then the week of Thanksgiving they'll make the quick hop over the St. Croix River to take on a UW-River Falls team out of the WIAC that will almost certainly have revenge on their minds on Tuesday 11-25 before settling into MIAC play.
The Not-Quite-Ready-For-Primetime Teams
9. St. Olaf
10. Augsburg
11. Carleton
12. Macalester
St. Olaf is a team that seems to be right on the brink of getting themselves into play for that sixth spot but I feel that we need to see more from this team before I get on that ledge. Second-year Head Coach Megan Lueck did lose four very good players to graduation last year (Paige Yagodinski, Sophia Kormann, Sarah Tangen and Ziling Zhen) but she does have a good nucleus back for this season in players such as junior forward Chloee Smith, fellow junior guard Joy Brandenstein and fellow junior combo guard/forward Bree Wilkerson. But there's also a lot of unproven sophomores and freshmen on this team that will need to provide the depth necessary if the Oles are indeed able to get themselves into the mix.
Augsburg wasn't dinged quite as bad on the graduation from as some of the other teams in the MIAC but it's always tough to replace experience and both Katie Manecke and Cassidee Thorvig had that. Yet second year Head Coach Mallie Doucette has a solid nucleus of players returning that could boost the Auggies chances this season. Senior forward Amira LaDuke paced the Augsburg attack last season and she's undoubtedly poised to do big things again this season. Sophomore guard Lani Fonoti could be one of the big surprises in the MIAC this season and she's exciting to watch. Senior guard Wakinyela Bear is the glue that holds this team together and junior guard Saylor Gallagher started coming into her own last season. Senior guard Melanie Delestrez, junior forward Maecee Alexander, junior guard Kate Aman-Lavicky and junior guard Sydney Hazuga who transferred in from Anoka-Ramsey will all be important pieces for Augsburg this season. I'm awfully tempted to think that this Augsburg team, IF they stay healthy and IF they can get some things to go their way, could possibly find themselves in the mix for the playoffs this season. But, let's remember too that this team has got to shore up things on the defensive side of the ball as the Auggies came in dead last in team defense last season and that has to change this time around.
Youth is the watchword over on the east side of Northfield as veteran Head Coach Tammy Metcalf-Filzen of Carleton does have three seniors on this year's squad but the Knights also have a ton of unproven freshmen and sophomores that will likely have to contribute early and often if Carleton wants to get themselves into the mix for playoff contention. Sophomore guard Addy Huss led the Knights in scoring last season as a freshman and sophomore guard Audrey Whitney wasn't far behind. Fellow sophomore forward Liesl McCallum figures to be another big piece for Carleton as well.
It's a new beginning over on the south side of Snelling Avenue as new Head Coach AD Donovan takes over the reigns at Macalester. And while the Scots are heavy on youth as well, there are some notable veteran returnees that you'll want to keep your eyes on; most notably junior guard Mary Daley, perhaps one of the most underrated and under-appreciated players you'll find in the MIAC. Given that Macalester lost Peyton Starks, Katherine Norquist and Nicole Norton to graduation, Donovan will also be relying heavily on junior guard Sydnee Smith and fellow junior guard Kendall Bernbaum to pick up the slack. While this team may take their lumps early on in the season, they're going to be one of those teams that will be very dangerous as the season progresses; especially for any opponent that's counting on a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
So, there you have it with my fearless predictions for this season. As always, please feel free to fire away with thoughts.
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