(WIAC) – The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its preview and predictions for the 2027 women’s basketball season. The predictions were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
UW-Oshkosh, the three-time defending champion, has been selected to claim the regular-season title. The Titans are ranked No. 6 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Preseason Poll and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division III Preseason Coaches’ Poll, and have reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division III championship in back-to-back seasons.
UW-La Crosse is ranked No. 14 in the D3hoops.com poll and 19th by the WBCA. The Eagles are slotted for second in the conference race and won their first WIAC tournament crown a year ago.
The remaining order in the conference predictions feature: UW-Whitewater (third); UW-Platteville (fourth), UW-River Falls (fifth), UW-Eau Claire (sixth), UW-Stevens Point (seventh) and UW-Stout Polytechnic (eighth).
Three teams will have a new head coach this season. Hannah Iverson takes over at UW-Eau Claire after leading UW-Stout for the last eight years, while Lindsay Bronson is the new head coach at UW-Oshkosh. She served in the same role at Carroll University (Wis.) for the past 10 seasons. UW-Stout will be led by Sam Clayton, who was the head coach at Michigan Tech for the past eight years.
WIAC teams will begin their non-conference schedules on Nov. 6, while the 14-game conference schedule will start on Jan. 2. The top-six teams in the standings will qualify for the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s). The event will be held Feb. 23, 25, and 27, with all contests hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic NCAA bid.
2026-27 Preseason Predictions – Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
2025-26 Record
- UW-Oshkosh (28-4 overall, 12-2 WIAC)
- UW-La Crosse (21-10, 9-5)
- UW-Whitewater (20-9, 8-6)
- UW-Platteville (18-9, 8-6)
- UW-River Falls (16-12, 8-6)
- UW-Eau Claire (13-12, 3-11)
- UW-Stevens Point (15-11, 4-10)
- UW-Stout Polytechnic (13-12, 4-10)
Team Capsules
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Hannah Iverson; 9th season (1st at UWEC); 125-74 (overall) / 0-0 (at UWEC)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/11
Starters Returning/Lost: 1/4
Returning All-WIAC: Mary Berg, Jr., G (2026-Honorable – at UW-Stout); Delaney Nyenhuis, Jr., F (2026-Defensive); Addy Verhagen, So., G (2026-First/Newcomer of the Year – at UW-Stout)
Notable Returning Players: Karsyn Bauman, Jr., F; Emma Donovan, Sr., F; Macie Miller, So., G; Kailey Tulachka, Sr., F
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach: Moran Lonning; 5th season (4th at UWL); 59-53 (overall) / 51-36 (at UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/7
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-WIAC: Molly Janke, Jr., G/F (2026-First); Grace Knupp, Sr., G (2026-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Lindsey Knuth, Sr., F; Jenna Welsch, So., F
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach: Lindsay Bronson; 11th season (1st at UWO); 134-114 (overall) / 0-0 (at UWO)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/9
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Returning All-WIAC: Sammi Beyer, Sr., G (2025-First, 2026-First); Paige Seckar, Jr., F (2025-Newcomer, 2026-First/Player of the Year)
Notable Returning Players: None
UW-Platteville
Head Coach: Kelly McNiff; 8th season at UWP; 75-88
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 13/6
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Returning All-WIAC: None
Notable Returning Players: Grace Groezinger, Jr., F; Ava Hanson, Jr., G; Caitlyn Strom, Jr., G; Tatum Weir, Sr., C
UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Shelby Lyman; 5th season at UWRF; 58-47
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/9
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-WIAC: Emily Anderson, So., F (2026-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Taylor Clarey, Jr., G; Sidney Schmit, Jr., G
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Matt Hockett; 5th season at UWSP; 59-44
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/9
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-WIAC: Karissa Smith, Sr., G (2026-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Jessilyn Ernst, Sr., F; Brenna Gehri, Jr., G; Laney Panich, Jr., G; Lily Truchon, Sr., G/F
UW-Stout Polytechnic
Head Coach: Sam Clayton; 9th season (1st at UWS); 138-88 (overall) / 0-0 (at UWS)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/6
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Returning All-WIAC: None
Notable Returning Players: Eleice Dahl, Sr., G; Julia Rybacki, Jr., G; Grace Schiesel, Sr., G; Mayara Wiltrout, Sr., F
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach: Keri Carollo; 25th season at UWW; 483-188
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 15/2
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Returning All-WIAC: Mia Gillis, Sr., F (2026-First); Bri McCurdy, Sr., G (2026-Honorable); Camryn Nies, Sr., G (2026-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Lily Newton, So., G; Ashley Schlabowske, Jr., G; Brooke Stenklyft, So., F
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