So here is an interesting tale: Homestead has dominated the SAC far more often than not since joining the conference. And while the Spartans remain a part of the SAC and you will find a team preview here as well, due to their change in schedule and removal of several teams, the Spartans will not be eligible to win the SAC title in 2026-2027.
So does that open up the field?
Let’s breakdown the SAC heading into the 2026-2027 season.
THE FAVORITE
SNIDER PANTHERS
Snider enters the season with one of the area’s most experienced and talented lineups, returning all five starters. Junior Janaya Cooper leads the way after averaging 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, while sophomore center Mackenzie White contributed 10.9 points and 7.6 rebounds. Seniors Izzie Eke (9 ppg, 3 rpg), Gracie Smith (6.8 ppg) and point guard Mylle Hurse (2.9 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2 spg) give the Panthers additional production and valuable leadership with a full starting lineup for coach Reggie Tharp.
Snider’s depth is just as impressive behind those starers, with fellow returners Mackenzie Carter averaging 7.4 points and Maddie White adding five points and five rebounds per game last season. Jayda Sims and Brooklyn Robinson provide more experienced options, while Blackhawk Christian transfer Dessi Pope adds another ball handler. With excellent size, athleticism and several interchangeable players, Snider’s ceiling will depend on maintaining its chemistry and staying together throughout the season.
“Stay Together. play together,” says Tharp of the message for his team this season.
THE CONTENDER
BISHOP LUERS KNIGHTS
Bishop Luers has a young centerpiece in sophomore guard Harvest Green, who averaged 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and three assists last season. Senior Trinitee Brown returns alongside her after averaging 7.1 points and 1.5 steals. The Knights went 10–16 overall and 4–5 in the SAC in 2025–26, and their experienced guards give them a foundation for improvement. Senior Campbell Glenn adds 4.1 points and three rebounds per game, while Natalie Stover and Nyaira Buchwald return in the frontcourt.
Coach Mary Hathaway expects guard play and a stronger defensive presence to lead the way. The Knights have worked on shooting with more confidence, and newcomers Liah McCarter, Liz Brinker and Avery Sebastian add size and depth. With Green driving a young group and Brown, Glenn and the seniors providing leadership, Luers is aiming for a better record, a top-four SAC finish and a run at a sectional title.
“I am excited to see this group come together, continue to grow, and build on everything we have worked on during the offseason. We are looking forward to an exciting season,” Hathaway said.
THE REST (listed alphabetically)
BISHOP DWENGER
Bishop Dwenger returns an experienced group led by junior guard Claire Schortgen, who averaged 7 points and 7 rebounds last season. Senior forwards Katie Keefer (5 points, 6 rebounds) and Charlotte Sweigert (4 points, 4 rebounds) also return to the starting lineup. Junior forward Annie O’Brien gives the Saints another proven contributor after averaging 8 points and 6 rebounds, while seniors Allie Nusbaum, Emma Cagnet and Ella Roberts add depth alongside juniors Jillian Gustafson and Reagan Furnas.
New head coach Will Lewis says the Saints’ strength is their willingness to buy in and build something together, a quality that showed in their growth over the summer. Freshman guards Lucy Coffman and Arie Morlan and sophomore guard Katy Lauer join the mix as Dwenger looks to turn that progress into a team capable of dictating the game.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to help some incredible young women bring the same excellence they show in the classroom and in our community onto the basketball court. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together,” said Lewis.
CARROLL
Carroll enters the 2026–27 season facing a significant transition after graduating five seniors, leaving a young group and inexperienced group to establish its own identity while building for the future. Sophomore guard Briscoe Booker is among the returners positioned for a larger role, with glimpses of her potential already evident last winter, including an eight-rebound performance against DeKalb. At 5-foot-8, Booker joins junior guards Mia Cortes, Iliana Mireles and Millie Leach in a returning perimeter group.
Inside, 6-foot senior Brynna Riczo provides a presence alongside 5-foot-11 junior Ashlyn Coil, giving the Chargers two posts to help anchor the frontcourt. Newcomers Jordan Powell, a 5-foot-8 junior guard, and Riley Powell, a 5-foot-9 sophomore guard, add options on the perimeter as Carroll works to establish its rotation.
CONCORDIA
Concordia enters the season looking to turn last year’s growing pains into progress, with coach Nicole Bolinger leaning on a returning core that gained valuable varsity experience. The Cadets finished 5-17 last season and must replace Alivia Bolinger’s team-leading 19.3 points and 9 rebounds per game, making a more balanced attack essential. Senior guard Jenna Akey provides experience after averaging 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals, while sophomore guard Khloe Vanderford returns after contributing 5 points and 1.7 assists per game. Sophomore forward Glory Hedtke added 4.6 points and 3 rebounds, and classmate Lily Spreen averaged 3.3 rebounds. With sophomore guard Macy Hendrickson also listed among the returning core, Concordia has a young foundation with a better understanding of the varsity game’s speed and demands.
Senior forward Christa Linnemeier and junior forward Naomi Desta provide additional returning experience, while sophomore guard Reagan Leighty moves up from JV and sophomore transfer Maggie Smith adds another option at forward. Freshman guards Harper Bolinger, Brooklynn Crabill and Somya Seals round out an incoming group that could make an early impact.
“Our coaching staff is really excited to see these girls in action. They used the summer to figure out some of the new dynamic and showed some feistiness and grit,” Bolinger says. “We have some returners to give us maturity on the court and some new faces who could make an impact.”
NORTHROP
Northrop enters the 2026–27 season with no returning starters after going 11–11 overall and 7–2 in conference play. The Bruins must replace their top eight scorers under new coach Kyle Bond, who spent last season as the head girls coach at Bishop Dwenger. This is a complete rebuild situation for the Bruins with a mostly clean slate.
Bond will look to seniors Saniyah Kimbrough, Caniya West, Talynn Lee and Miracle O’Neal, along with Destiny Erxleben, to help shape the new rotation. Junior point guard Kalease Shurelds arrives from New Haven. Bond sees athleticism, speed and quickness as the group’s strengths, but says development and attention to detail will be essential as players adjust to varsity roles. Kimbrough is the returner with the most experience as she played in 18 games last season for an average of 10.6 minutes per contest, while West played in 12 and O’Neal in seven contests.
“As a coach, it was instilled in me I must act with honesty, integrity and hard work. I pride myself on being a servant leader to use the game of basketball as a tool to impact student athletes on and off the court, Bond said. “Coach the players in the locker room to the best of my ability.”
NORTH SIDE
North Side enters the season with an experienced backcourt led by senior Kaydence Wallace, who averaged a team-high 11.9 points while totaling 74 rebounds and 24 steals last season. Sophomores Bria Smith and Rakylah Paris also return after making playing quite a bit as freshmen. Smith led the Legends with 22 assists and 28 steals, while Paris contributed 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 per game. Seniors Mykail Smith and Nasiah Coats and sophomore Aniya Chambers provide additional experience for a team built around speed, effort and connectivity.
The Legends also added several experienced transfers that will really bolster things, including senior guards Kamiah Morris (3 ppg) and Avery Laisuer from Northrop and Renesha Autry (11.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg) from South Side. Senior forward Courtney Jackson and freshmen Sulina King and Sarenity Woods-Rogan further deepen a roster that should feature improved shooting. North Side’s goal is to turn its competitiveness into multiple conference victories and establish itself as a respected opponent that will challenge teams every night.
“Leave no doubt that we can change our program and the public’s perception of our girl’s basketball team every opportunity we hit the floor,” said new coach Marq Abram on the message to his team.
SOUTH SIDE
South Side enters the 2026-27 season in rebuild mode after losing several players to transfer who helped lead the Archers, leaving a returning varsity group that will need to embrace larger roles. Senior guard Bre Hamlet brings experience after averaging 1.5 points and 1.6 rebounds last season, while sophomore Teresa Shephard contributed 1 point and 2.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Macy Newsome, who totaled 23 points and 21 rebounds, rounds out that returning core. With limited returning production, South Side’s progress will depend on those guards providing leadership while a largely new roster adjusts to varsity competition.
The Archers’ optimism centers on a freshman class that showed strong effort and energy during summer workouts. Lane Middle School products Camyia Woods and Rylee Caldwell join Portage newcomers Li’Ana Carpenter and Nevaeh Bower, giving South Side four freshmen with opportunities to contribute immediately. 5-foot-11 junior Adrian Dansby, an out-of-state arrival, in adds size to the frontcourt. Sophomore Tamiyah Belcher, a 5-foot-7 guard/forward from North Side, provides another option on the wing. South Side’s identity is still taking shape, but this season offers a chance to establish a foundation built on hard work, energy and a willingness to compete every night says coach Juanita Goodwell. Developing that consistency while gaining experience will be central to the Archers’ rebuild.
WAYNE
Wayne enters the season with senior leadership as a defining strength, anchored by Davianna Irons. The 5-foot-9 forward returns after averaging 17.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, giving the Generals an established scoring option and a presence on the glass. Senior guard Braleah King and senior forward Zierre Akison bring additional experience, while junior forward Amiya Tyree adds to the returning core. Sophomores Merriah Bryant and Trine’d Calhoun round out that group, providing opportunities for continued growth alongside Wayne’s veteran leaders.
The newcomers bring scoring potential that could give Wayne more options offensively. Junior guard Bri’Tanya Diedrich-Williams arrives as a transfer from South Side with averages of 18.3 points, five rebounds and two steals per game, while senior guard Matilyn Johannsen brings 12 points and two steals per contest as a transfer from Bishop Dwenger. Senior forward Bry’Lee Diedrich-Williams (also from South Side) adds another veteran to the roster, and 6-foot sophomore forward Mytazia Ensley provides size in the frontcourt. With that mix of experience and production, the Generals’ focus is on competing every night and limiting turnovers. Taking better care of the basketball will be central to turning their offensive potential into consistent performances.
“We got something brewing on 9100,” says coach Lawyer Smith III, referencing Wayne High School’s address on Winchester road.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT THEM
HOMESTEAD
Homestead enters 2026–27 after a 24–3 season and a 9–0 run through the Summit Athletic Conference but this season they will not be eligible to win the SAC after eliminating half of their SAC opponent schedule. Junior guard Delaney Noll is the lone returning starter listed by coach Rod Parker. She averaged 10.0 points and 4.3 assists last season, giving the Spartans an experienced playmaker as they rebuild their rotation. Senior Eva Scarbeary averaged 4.2 points, while junior Aggie Bell added 3.9 points. Both are among the key returners expected to take on larger roles.
Homestead also lists Leah Werth, Kenna Taylor and 6-foot-1 sophomore Malia Williams among his returning players. Suzy Perego, who averaged 4.4 points and 2.8 assists last season, will miss the season with a torn ACL. Parker expects balance and versatility to be Homestead’s strengths, with several players able to score at different levels and handle multiple positions. His goal is to compete at a high level on both ends of the floor for all 32 minutes.
“I believe this team will play with energy, passion and enthusiasm which will be fun to watch,” Parker says.
BOUNCE’S SAC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Snider
2. Bishop Luers
3. Wayne
4. Bishop Dwenger
5. Carroll
6. North Side
7. Concordia
8. Northrop
9. South Side
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