Minutewomen Selected Third in MAC Preseason Poll

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Massachusetts women's basketball program was voted to finish third in its second season in the Mid-American Conference, announced by the conference on Tuesday afternoon. UMass received one vote to emerge victorious in the 2027 MAC Tournament, while junior guard Yahmani McKayle was selected to the Preseason All-MAC First Team.

Massachusetts is fresh off a 23-6 regular season record in 2025-26 and a 15-3 mark in conference play during the Minutewomen's inaugural season in the MAC, which was good for the third seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. It marked the first time the Minutewomen eclipsed the 20-win mark since the 2022-23 campaign. For the 2025-26 season, Massachusetts ranked in the top-70 nationally in assists per game (47th), assists/steals ratio (54th), steals per game (60th), turnovers forced per game (63rd) and three-point percentage defense (69th). UMass ranked first in the MAC in opponent three point percentage (.287), second in scoring defense (60.4), assists (16.0) and assist/turnover ratio (1.09), third in scoring margin (8.5), opponent field goal percentage (.383) and fourth in steals (10.0) and blocked shots (3.50).

McKayle had an impressive first season in the MAC, averaging 16.2 points, 5.0 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, ranking third in the conference in both points and assists. The sophomore standout elevated her play in conference action with averages of 16.4 points and 5.2 assists. The Queens, N.Y. native, scored double figures in 28 contests across the 29-game schedule, including seven 20-point games. McKayle set career highs in points, with 28 against Kent State in a game where she scored 14 in the fourth quarter alone, and assists, with 11 against Akron. For her play, McKayle becomes the first All-MAC First Team member in program history.

2026-27 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)

1. Ball State (5) – 111 points
2. Miami (4) – 108 points
3. UMass (1) – 103 points
4. Toledo (2) – 98 points
5. Ohio – 75 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 61 points
7. Kent State– 59 points
8. Bowling Green – 50 points
9. Central Michigan – 44 points
10. Western Michigan – 37 points
11. Akron – 27 points
12. Buffalo – 19 points

Tournament Champion: Ball State – 4; Toledo – 4; Miami – 3; UMass – 1

2026-27 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Kendall Carruthers, Toledo
Yahmani McKayle, UMass
Bailey Tabeling, Ohio
Tessa Towers, Ball State
Amber Tretter, Miami

Second Team
Faith Fedd-Robinson, Toledo
Peyton Hill, Eastern Michigan
Grace Kingery, Ball State
Julianna Lamendola, Miami
Jyah LoVett, Toledo
Aniya Rowe, Buffalo

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Yahmani McKayle

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics