Minutewomen Selected Third in MAC Preseason Poll

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Massachusetts women's basketball program was voted to finish third in its inaugural season in the Mid-American Conference, announced by the conference on Tuesday afternoon. UMass received three votes to emerge victorious in the 2026 MAC Tournament, while senior forward Megan Olbrys and sophomore guard Yahmani McKayle were both selected to the Preseason All-MAC Second Team.

The Minutewomen are coming off a 17-15 record in the 2024-25 campaign, earning the program's fourth bid to the WNIT and seventh postseason tournament appearance overall. Massachusetts posted an impressive turnaround season from the 2023-24 slate, improving its win total by 12 including nine more victories in conference play. UMass sat at #151 in the NCAA Women's Basketball NET rankings; finishing the season at 43rd in the country in rebound margin, 56th in scoring defense, 64th in offensive rebounding, 73rd in opponent field goal percentage, and 75th in forced turnovers.

Olbrys returns to the Maroon and White following a breakout year -- leading the Minutewomen in scoring (14.0), rebounding (8.2), and field goal percentage (52.7%). The senior earned an Atlantic 10 All-Conference Third Team selection in last year's campaign, registering career-highs in points (23), rebounds (13), assists (7), blocks (3), and steals (3). The forward tallied eight double-doubles on the season and was one of two Minutewomen to log over 1,000 minutes last season.

McKayle builds on a freshman season that tabbed her Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors and an All-Rookie First Team selection. During the First Round of the WNIT, the guard became the first freshman and third Minutewoman in program history to record a triple-double (14pts, 10reb, 10ast). This marked the school's first triple-double in national postseason play. McKayle was the first Massachusetts rookie since Hailey Leidel ('16-'17) to earn Rookie of the Year honors; averaging 13.6 points, 3.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.8 steals.

2025-26 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Kent State (5) – 133 points
2. Toledo (2) – 118 points
3. UMass (3) – 115 points
4. Ball State (3) – 112 points
5. Central Michigan – 105 points
6. Bowling Green – 101 points
7. Miami – 86 points
8. Akron – 51 points
9. Western Michigan – 48 points
10. Ohio – 44 points
11. Buffalo – 42 points
12. Eastern Michigan – 36 points
13. Northern Illinois – 23 points

Tournament Champion: Kent State – 5, UMass – 3, Toledo – 3, Ball State – 1, Miami – 1

2025-26 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Janae Tyler, Kent State, Junior
Kendall Carruthers, Toledo, Junior
Madi Morson, Central Michigan, Sophomore
Paige Kohler, Bowling Green, Junior
Sisi Eleko, Eastern Michigan, Senior

Second Team
Amber Tretter, Miami, Junior
Ayanna-Sarai Darrington, Central Michigan, Sophomore
Megan Olbrys, UMass, Senior
Mya Babbitt, Kent State, Junior
Yahmani McKayle, UMass, Sophomore

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Yahmani McKayle

Megan Olbrys

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics