Eastern Wayne Today

The Wayne State University women's basketball team is set to begin its 2025-26 season at the DII CCA Tip-Off Classic, hosted by Texas Woman's University. The Warriors will play two games at the event: first against the host team, Texas Woman's University (TWU), on Friday, November 7, and then against the University of Alabama-Huntsville (UAH) on Saturday, November 8. This marks the earliest regular-season game in program history.

Looking ahead to the new season, Wayne State aims to build on recent success. Last year, the team finished with a 20-12 record. Seven of those losses were to teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament, including four defeats by Grand Valley State University (GVSU), who went on to win the national championship. Over the past six seasons, Wayne State has accumulated 96 wins.

The Warriors return three of their top four scorers from last season: junior guard McKenna Ferguson, senior forward Taylor Thompson, and senior forward Gabi Lutchka. Together they contributed over a thousand points during the previous campaign. Thompson was named to the Preseason Second Team All-GLIAC.

Shea Tripp graduated after earning All-Region honors and receiving the John Wooden Citizenship Cup for her community service efforts while averaging more than 14 points per game last season. Alyssa Leister also graduated after scoring 215 points and contributing in assists and steals during her senior year.

Among other returning players are Mackenzie Miller—who led last year's squad in field goal percentage—and key contributors from beyond the arc such as Lutchka and Ferguson. Thompson led in rebounds with an average of eight per game.

Newcomers joining this fall include freshman guards DeMaya Asberry and Maddy Benard; centers Nour Beydoun and AJ Rickli; and graduate student guard Karrington Gordon.

After opening at TWU’s tournament—the first countable game before or on November 7th in program history—Wayne State will play road games against Malone and Ashland before hosting Hillsdale for its only home contest prior to Thanksgiving. The GLIAC league schedule starts in December with games against Purdue Northwest and Ferris State among others. The regular season concludes with home games against Lake Superior State University (LSSU) Lakers and Saginaw Valley State Cardinals before entering the GLIAC Tournament scheduled for March 4-8.

Wayne State will face both TWU and UAH for the first time ever this season. TWU ended last year with a 33-2 record under coach Beth Jillson, reaching their conference championship game but falling short against Lubbock Christian. UAH finished last season at 25-7 under coach Allen Sharpe—a program record—and reached its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance.

In preseason polling for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), Wayne State was picked fifth behind Grand Valley State, Northern Michigan, Ferris State, and Parkside.

Last season concluded when Wayne State lost to eventual national champion Grand Valley State in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 by a score of 87-54.

All home contests as well as road GLIAC games will be broadcast via FLoSports on flohoops.com. For away conference matchups, audio coverage will be available through Warrior Sports Network with Kevin Brechmacher providing commentary.