BOSTON – The 2025-26 basketball season begins on Monday with six conference teams in action. Defending champion Vermont looks to made it a second straight title, but has to get past tough Maine and Bryant programs. Get a breakdown of each of the nine women's programs below, before they hit the court in a few days.
The Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference Team were released on Oct. 20 and can be viewed below.. The reigning champions of Vermont were selected first, while Maine was selected second and Bryant took third.
Fans will once again be able to watch every #AEHoops home game on The AE on ESPN with all games airing on ESPN+ or ESPN3 domestically and AmericaEast.TV internationally. Follow the @AEHoopsNews X (Formerly Twitter) account to stay up-to-date on #AEHoops news all season long.
UAlbany:
Record: 26-7 Overall, 14-2 AE (1st)
Offense: 63.1 PPG | Defense: 53.6 PPG allowed
Last Game: Lost to Saint Joseph’s in the WBIT 1st Round
Albany enters 2025–26 as the reigning regular-season champion and one of the standard-bearers in the conference. The Great Danes once again were one of the top defensive teams in the nation, but will have to do it with a vastly different roster from last year’s group.
The Great Danes lost five of their top six scorers from last year, including Player of the Year Cayla Cooper. Looking to help fill the void will be returners, Delanie Hill and Martina Borrellas and Gabriela Falcao. Hill started 31 games at guard last season while the other two were key cogs off the bench. The Great Danes also bring back Bella Stuart who missed last season due to injury and welcome five freshmen into the fold.
Head Coach Colleen Mullen’s calling card will continue to be a strong defense that will keep them in games and if the offense can find its stride with the returners and newcomers UAlbany will be a force once again.
Binghamton:
Record: 15-15 Overall, 7-9 AE (T-6th)
Offense: 59.8 PPG | Defense: 58.0 PPG allowed
Last Game: Lost 63-66 vs. Bryant (AE Quarterfinals)
Binghamton enters 2025–26 under second-year head coach Mary Grimes, looking to fine tune its identity as she continues to remake the roster following a 4-9 finish to last year.
The Bearcats struggled to find their groove in conference play last season, ranking sixth in scoring and seventh in three point shooting (29.8%). This season they do return five of their six top scorers from a season ago. Bella Pucci looks to break out in her third season after averaging 9.3 points , 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game last year while Yanniah Boyd also did a bit of everything for the team. Leah Middleton should also improve even more as a junior, while Kendall Bennett came on strong over the final month of the season, including 19 points in the team’s quarterfinal loss. Five incoming freshmen should also provide depth for this experienced roster.
In 2025–26, Binghamton’s upside will depend heavily on Coach Grimes’ ability to sharpen the team’s offensive execution and win close games. If the Bearcats can do that they have a chance to earn an elusive top-four seed in the tournament.
Bryant:
Record: 17-15 Overall, 9-7 AE (T-3rd)
Offense: 58.0 PPG | Defense: 59.2 PPG Allowed
Last Game: Lost 45-62 to Vermont (AE Semifinals)
Expectations continue to rise for Bryant in 2025-26 under third-year head coach Lynne-Ann Kokoski. They fell in the conference semifinals last and were picked third in this year’s preseason poll after increasing their win total each of the past two seasons.
The Bulldogs have six players returning this year who started at least ten games for them, including Preseason All-Conference selection Mia Mancini who led the team with 10.9 PPG and also paced them in assists (3.2 apg). Nia Scott and Miranda Nyborg both return to guard the paint where they averaged a combined 14.3 rebounds per game. Mimi Rubino is also primed for a big year after scoring in double figures 11 times in conference play. The team does welcome a few newcomers who should be able to assist in the team’s upward trajectory.
With an experienced core returning and having shown the ability to close out games over the final half of last year, the Bulldogs have the pieces to challenge the upper half of the America East and make a run for a top-two seed in the tournament.
Maine:
Record: 15–16 Overall, 9–7 AE (T-3rd)
Offense: 58.3 PPG | Defense: 58.5 PPG
Last Game: Lost 41-49 vs. UAlbany (AE Semifinals)
Maine enters the 2025–26 season determined to climb back to the top of the America East after a semifinal finish last year and a championship in 2023-24. It will be a new-look team for head coach Amy Vachon who has proven that no matter what her teams will compete and be in contests until the very end.
The biggest addition for this year’s team is the return of 2023-24 Player of the Year Adrianna Smith, who missed last season due to injury. The forward ranked in the top-two of the league in scoring (16.4), rebounding (10.8) and assists (4.7) two years ago, but has more support this season. Returning guards Asta Blauenfeldt (9.7 ppg) and Sarah Talon (5.5 ppg) bring timely scoring and strong defense to the team while redshirt freshman Maddie Fitzpatrick will contribute as well. The Black Bears brought in some size this year with 6-4 transfer Lizzy Gruber and 6-3 freshman Bailey Breen to provide support for Smith up front.
If the supporting cast steps up and the team stays healthy, Smith and the Black Bears should be considered one of the favorites, if not the favorite, in the America East this season.
UMBC:
Record: 14–15 Overall, 7–9 AE (T-6th)
Offense: 57.3 PPG | Defense: 59.1 PPG
Last Game: Lost to Vermont 39-70 (AE Quarterfinals)
UMBC enters the 2025–26 season looking to build upon a year of progress under head coach Candice Hill, who now begins her second season leading the Retrievers. UMBC showed flashes of potential but struggled to find consistency on both ends of the floor as they finished sixth in the conference with a 7-9 league record.
For the Retrievers to take the next step, a solid core of returners and an exciting group of newcomers will have to gel. Carmen Yanez is the lone returning starter. The starting point guard averaged 4.5 points, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game in 30 minutes a night. Returners Tiara Bellamy, Lauren Thompson and Alaina Williams each appeared in at least 27 games and averaged over 10 minutes per game, with all three flashing at various points during the season. Hill also brought in three freshman and a few transfers, including Jade Tillman from East Carolina and Delaney Yarborough from North Carolina A&T.
If UMBC can generate more consistent offense and establish a defensive identity on the road, the Retrievers have a chance to make a run at a top-four seed once again. In Hill’s first season they were 9-5 at home overall and 5-3 in league action.
UMass Lowell:
Record: 3-25 Overall, 1-15 AE (9th)
Offense: 47.3 PPG | Defense: 62.3 PPG allowed
Last Game: Lost to Binghamton 42-72 (Missed AE Tournament)
First-year head coach Jon Plefka takes over a UMass Lowell team which won just three games last season and had the league’s worst offense. Prior to Lowell, Plefka led a pair of turnarounds as a head coach in Division II, first at Post and then at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) in 2023-24 as the team went from 7-2 (6-18) prior to his arrival to 20-10 (17-7).
Seven players return from last season, led by Maddie Rice who averaged 6.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a freshman. Amina Kameric, meanwhile, played in 25 games with 16 starts, averaging 2.8 points per game, while Nia Chima played in 18 contests off the bench with 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest. Among the newcomers, Klimentina Modeva and Anabel Latore should add some size up front.
If the newcomers can step in quickly and work with the returners to adapt to Plefka’s system, UMass Lowell with be a tough out and play themselves into playoff contention.
New Hampshire
Record: 10-20 Overall, 4-12 AE (8th)
Offense: 53.0 PPG | Defense: 58.5 PPG allowed
Last Game: Lost 44-66 to UAlbany (AE Quarterfinals)
UNH enters the 2025-26 season aiming to build on a solid first season under Megan Shoniker, as the Wildcats reached the conference tournament for the first time in three seasons, despite an inconsistent offense.
The Wildcats bring back five players who started at least 15 games last season and with an additional season under Shoniker they should be even more in sync. Preseason All-Conference selection Eva DeChent led the league in scoring last year, averaging 17.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, but shot just 36.8 percent. Returners Maggie Cavanaugh (8.4 ppg) and Lucia Melero Sabat (4.1 ppg) can hopefully ease the scoring load. Sydney Lusher and Kenzie Matulonis will provide depth while transfer Sophia Sabino comes to UNH after averaging 7.2 points and 3.4 assists per game in 29 starts for Bucknell. Camryn Fauria comes over from Binghamton after starting 20+ games each of the past two seasons.
If the newcomers can help ease the scoring load and help lock down on defense, UNH has a chance to be in every contest and maybe make a run at a top-four seed in the league.
NJIT:
Record: 11–19 Overall, 8–8 AE (5th)
Offense: 63.7 PPG | Defense: 65.0 PPG
Last Game: Lost to Maine 51-65 (AE Quarterfinals)
NJIT enters the 2025–26 season looking to assert that the Highlanders are a team which should be taken seriously as a potential top-four seed. Mike Lane’s team had one of the best offensives in the league and showed up defense in key spot to five at .500 in league play.
NJIT brings back four of their top six scorers from last season, led by Preseason All-Conference selection Alejandra Zuniga who is one of the most complete guards in the league after averaging 16.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game last season. 2024-25 Rookie of the Year Olivia Kulyk is a rangy guard who put up 9.7 points 4.6 rebounds and shot 38.8 percent from three. Juniors Marissa Gingrich and Madilyn Dogs each started at least 19 games last season as wings, while Mike Lane is hoping Audrey Kormann or Kyleigh Welsh can provide size up front after seeing less than 10.0 minutes a game last year.
The time is now for NJIT. If the Highlanders can finish off opponents this year with strong defense and efficient offense in the final minutes they could challenge for a top three seed in the conference tournament this year.
Vermont:
Record: 21-13 Overall, 13-3 AE (2nd)
Offense: 60.9 PPG | Defense: 52.9 PPG allowed
Last Game: Lost 75-55 to NC State in NCAA Tournament First Round
Vermont enters 2025-26 looking to repeat as America East Tournament Champions and reach a fourth consecutive conference championship game. The Catamounts have ranked in the top five nationally in scoring defense each of the past two seasons under Alisa Kresge and with a strong returning core they will be the team to beat in the league once again.
Three starters from last season return from last season and four of the top seven scorers, led by Preseason All-Conference selections Nikola Priede and Catherine Gilwee. Priede averaged 14.2 points per game over the last 10 games of the season and was named the AE Tournament MOP, while Gilwee ran the offense to perfection with 8.1 points and 3.8 assists per game. Sharpshooter Keira Hanson also returns after connecting on 62 threes at a 44.6 percent clip last year. Vermont added two-time all-conference selection Jadyn Weltz from Binghamton, where she averaged 9.7 points, 2.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game with 35 threes. In addition to those veterans, Vermont has a number of sophomores and five freshmen who will fight for minutes on this deep squad.
The defending champions will force teams to beat them with positionally sound defense once again, and if the shooting and offense stay strong Vermont will be the team to beat in the league this season.
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