Women’s basketball is gearing up for the 2026-27 season, with its first official scrimmage on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at Simpson College. The team will look to improve from last season, which they finished with a 10-14 overall record and a 7-9 record in the Midwest Conference.

The team’s season began on Oct. 15, but preparation started in August. The team’s preseason consisted of three weightlifting sessions and three open gym sessions a week.

“This year, preseason was the most structured it’s ever been, thanks to our fall strength
and conditioning program and the preseason they designed for us,” wrote Carolyn Pierce `27, in an email to The S&B.

Head women’s basketball coach Dana Harrold, who has served in the role since July 2013, spoke about the excitement present during preseason.

“You haven’t won any games, you haven’t lost any games, we’re not five-and-a-half months into a really long season,” Harrold said. “Everybody’s just excited about what our new team could be.”

Both Megan Walters `29, a center-forward, and Georgia Patterson `29, a guard, shared the preseason enthusiasm and added that their favorite part of preseason is crafting a new team.

With a lot of new players and new playing styles, Patterson said she looks forward to seeing the team come together.

“I think just reestablishing the team culture and spending time with everyone and learning about people and playing with different players is also super fun,” said Walters.

The excitement carries throughout the team as Walters, Pierce and Patterson all shared their love for the community the team brings.

“I think a huge part of playing D-III is the memories you make with the people. So I’m really excited to be on the bus and [attend] away games overnight, practices being on campus,” said Walters.

Pierce said she was most excited to play her last season with this current group, and believes they will perform well.

“I was really scared at first, as I am the only senior this semester, but as we’ve all gotten closer, I think this group will shock a lot of people,” she said.

Both Coach Harrold and Pierce share the need for, and love of, balance that runs through the team.

“We are a young team, but I feel like we have a lot of different people who can do different things,” said Pierce. “That is what I have always liked about this program. We are always a pretty well-rounded team, and someone new always seems to step up.”

“It’s exciting to coach a team where you have a different leading scorer every night, you rebound by committee, and you share the hard things, you share the good things,” said Coach Harrold.

Women’s basketball’s first game will be Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Central College in Pella, Iowa. More notably will be the team’s first home game on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. against Buena Vista University.

“The energy when we have people in the stands is totally different,” Walters said. “It’s everything you need to get an extra steal or an extra rebound.”

It’s not just students, but parents and townspeople supporting the team, who make that energy possible, Pierce explained.

“It doesn’t just bring energy, it also reminds us how supported we are, and I think we all really appreciate that,” she said.