As the 2026-27 women’s basketball season approaches, the biggest question in the Big East is whether another program can challenge UConn’s undeniable dominance. Teams like Creighton and Villanova are trying to close the gap in the conference, while squads like Butler and Georgetown look to take a step up this year.
Butler Bulldogs
Key Additions: Northern Kentucky transfer Karina Bystry (sophomore guard), Bowling Green transfer Taya Ellis (senior forward), Purdue Fort Wayne transfer Lili Krasovec (senior forward), Miami (OH) transfer Tamar Singer (junior guard), Florida International transfer Judit Valero (senior guard)
Key Departures: Mallory Miller (forward, Florida), Anna Wypych (guard, Michigan State), Lily Zeinstra (guard, FGCU), Caroline Dotsey (forward, UMass), McKenna Johnson (guard, Green Bay), Kennedy Langham (guard, Southern Miss)
Key Returners: Saniya Jackson (9.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, redshirt junior guard), Nevaeh Jackson (6.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, senior guard)
For Butler, the upcoming season offers a chance to rebuild under new head coach Maria Marchesano.
The Bulldogs finished last season 12-19 overall and 6-14 in conference and enter this season ranked 10th in the preseason coaches poll. Marchesano comes from Purdue Fort Wayne, after leading the Mastodons to three consecutive 20-win seasons. Butler returns twins Saniya and Nevaeh who can provide this team with experience on a roster filled with newcomers. Saniya averaged 9.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season, while Nevaeh contributed 6.3 points per game. The combination of returning players and new additions may be important for Butler looking to establish a new identity.
UConn Huskies
Key Additions: Olivia Vukosa (first-year center)
Key Departures: Azzi Fudd (guard, WNBA), Serah Williams (forward, WNBA), Ice Brady (forward, Florida State), Ayanna Patterson (forward, Kentucky)
Key Returners: Sarah Strong (forward, 2025-26 Big East Player and Defensive Player of the Year), KK Arnold (guard, preseason All-Big East), Blanca Quiñonez (forward, 2025-26 Big East Freshman of the Year)
The University of Connecticut enters this season as a unanimous preseason favorite with finishing last year with a 38-1 overall record and a perfect 20-0 in conference play record. The Huskies captured both the Big East regular season and tournament championships, continuing their dominance within the conference.
Led by head coach Geno Auriemma, UConn has returning junior forward Strong, who averaged 18.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season. The reigning conference and defensive player of the year was named the AP Preseason Player of the Year and looks to lead UConn to another Big East crown.
Creighton Bluejays
Key Additions: Minnesota transfer Nia Holloway (graduate forward)
Key Departures: Elizabeth Gentry (forward, Utah Valley)
Key Returners: Ava Zediker (guard, unanimous First Team All-Big East), Neleigh Gessert (guard, sophomore), Norah Gessert (guard, sophomore), Allison Heathcock (forward, junior)
Following a 16-15 overall and 11-9 conference record a year ago, Creighton slots in as the third-best team in the Big East. Despite the mediocre record, the Bluejays finished last season strong, winning eight of their last 11 games.
Creighton returns Zediker and Gessert, both of whom were unanimously selected to the Preseason All-Big East team. Zediker led the Bluejays last season with 13.3 points per game, while Gessert averaged 11.8 points per game and made 81 three-pointers. The Bluejays are also welcoming graduate transfer forward Holloway from Minnesota. Holloway brings a defense-minded presence to the ‘Jays, which may help them improve and shake up the conference standings through the season.
DePaul Blue Demons
Key Additions: George Mason transfer Louis Volker (senior forward), Iona transfer Zoey Ward (senior forward), Wagner transfer Doyinsola Lijirin (senior forward), San Jose State transfer Kaliyah Dillard (senior forward)
Key Departures: Alayna West (guard, Alabama), Aizhanique Mayo (guard, Tulane), Sumer Lee (guard, Cal Poly)
Key Returners: Kate Clarke (6.8 ppg, fifth-year guard), Ally Timm (junior guard), Gina Davorija (sophomore guard)
DePaul rounds out the preseason poll at 11th after finishing last season 8-24 overall and 5-15 in the conference. The Blue Demons return their fifth-year guard Clarke, who averaged 6.8 points and 2.8 assists last year. They also added five transfers, most notably graduate forward Volker who led George Mason to an Atlantic 10 championship appearance a season ago. Along with Volker, other additions include senior guard Ward, senior forward Lijirin, senior forward Dillard and senior guard Nyah Lowery to potentially strengthen their roster during conference play.
Georgetown Hoyas
Key Additions: Bowling Green transfer Johnea Donahue (junior guard), Pacific University transfer Winner Bartholomew (junior guard), Kendall Perry (first-year guard), Stella Lockhart (first-year forward), Bo Frost (first-year guard)
Key Departures: Victoria Rivera (guard, Pacific), Khadee Hession (guard, Tulane), Modesti McConnell (guard, graduated), Alexia Dagba (forward, Idaho)
Key Returners: Destiny Agubata (8.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg junior guard/forward)
Georgetown comes in ranked eighth in the preseason poll after finishing last season 16-15. The Hoyas return junior Agubata who averaged 8.5 points and a team-leading five rebounds per game last season. Multiple newcomers join the roster, such as first-year guard Perry and junior guard Donahue. The Hoyas face a challenge in incorporating talent while trying to compete with the better teams in the conference.
Marquette Golden Eagles
Key Additions: Xavier transfer MacKenzie Givens (junior guard)
Key Departures: Charia Smith (forward, Bradley), Lee Volker (guard, Syntainics MBC)
Key Returners: Halle Vice (forward, First Team All-Big East)
Marquette is ranked sixth in this season’s preseason coaches poll, despite recording back-to-back top four Big East finishes. Under head coach Cara Consuegra, the Golden Eagles finished last season 18-12 overall and 12-8 in conference play. Senior forward Vice returns after earning unanimous First Team All-Big East honors and leads a veteran group along with senior guard Jordan Meulemans and sophomore guard Kam Herring.
Providence Friars
Key Additions: UNCW transfer Kylah Silver (junior guard)
Key Departures: Sami Mancini (forward/center, Utah State), Austeja Babraitis (forward, Barry)
Key Returners: Orlagh Gormley (junior guard), Princess Moody (sophomore guard)
Providence enters the season ranked seventh after finishing 15-18 overall and 7-13 in conference play. The Friars return junior guard Gormley along with sophomore guard Moody and head coach Erin Batth. The main goal for the Friars this season is to develop their younger players and incorporate several transfers into the program.
Seton Hall Pirates
Key Additions: Ari Vidales (first-year guard), Shamira Morton (first-year guard), Mississippi State transfer Saniyah King (junior guard)
Key Departures: Jada Eads (guard, Tennessee), Jordana Codio (guard, Georgia), Zahara Bishop (guard, Auburn), Natalia Hall-Rosa (guard/forward, Boston College)
Key Returners: Savannah Catalon (13.1 ppg last season, senior guard), Ja’Kahla Craft (junior guard), Ari Woodard (sophomore guard)
Separated by only one point from St. John’s in the preseason poll, Seton Hall follows closely behind at fifth. The Pirates finished last season 19-13 and returned senior guard Catalon who averaged 13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game last season. Catalon also shot 39.5% on field goals last season, providing Seton Hall with an experienced offensive leader. Head coach Anthony Bozella is entering his 14th season with the Pirates this year. Mississippi State transfer junior guard King and junior guard Craft will be looking to build on last season’s success.
St. John’s Red Storm
Key Additions: Campbell transfer Olivia Tucker (sophomore guard), Duquesne transfer Reina Green (senior guard), Texas A&M transfer Ny’Ceara Pryor (fifth-year guard), West Georgia transfer Asia Donald (junior guard)
Key Departures: Skye Owen (guard, Florida), Beautiful Waheed (guard, Arkansas), Kyla Hayes (forward, St. Bonaventure)
Key Returners: Brooke Moore (senior guard, Preseason All-Big East), Sa’Mya Wyatt (junior forward, Preseason All-Big East)
St. John’s enters the season ranked fourth following its fourth consecutive winning season. Head coach Joe Tartamella begins his 15th season leading the program. Returning Big East honorees — senior guard Moore and junior forward Wyatt — were both selected to the preseason all-conference team. Similar to Creighton having a nice mix of returning and new players, the Red Storm’s focus this season may be building chemistry and maintaining their position in the top tier of the conference.
Villanova Wildcats
Key Additions: Quinnipiac transfer Anna Foley (senior forward)
Key Departures: Danae Carter (forward, graduated), MD Ntambue (guard, Loyola Chicago)
Key Returners: Jasmine Bascoe (junior guard, First Team All-Big East), Kennedy Henry (sophomore guard, Big East All-Freshman and Defensive teams in 2025-26), Brynn McCurry (senior forward)
Villanova enters the season ranked second in the preseason coaches poll following a 25-8 campaign — including a 16-4 record in conference play after finishing 25-8 overall and 16-4 in conference play. The Wildcats were able to reach the Big East Championship game and earned an NCAA tournament appearance last season.
Under head coach Denise Dillon, the Wildcats have the tools necessary to challenge UConn. The biggest return for Villanova is junior guard Bascoe who earned unanimous First Team All-Big East after averaging 18.9 points and four rebounds per game last season. Alongside Bascoe, senior forward McCurry and senior guard Kelsey Joens hope to provide an offensive spark for an emerging Wildcat Squad.
Xavier Musketeers
Key Additions: Purdue transfer Hila Karsh (sophomore guard), South Alabama transfer Diawna Carter-Hartley (senior forward), Lucile Jerome (first-year guard)
Key Departures: MacKenzie Givens (guard, Marquette), Penda Dieng (forward, Georgia Tech), Mariyah Noel (guard, Kansas), Savannah White (forward/guard, Penn State)
Key Returners: Meri Kanerva (10.1 ppg and 3.0 apg, junior guard)
Xavier entered the season ranked ninth with returning junior guard Kanerva who averaged 10.1 points last season and 3.9 assists. Head coach Billi Chambers added several transfers, including Karsh from Purdue and Carter-Hartley from South Alabama. With a substantial amount of new transfers, Xavier is looking to turn the team around with a redesigned roster.