Contact: Greta Norville, Assistant Director of Sports Communications and Marketing, norvilleg@midwestconference.org
NEENAH, Wisconsin – Ripon College enters the 2026-27 season as the preseason favorite in the Midwest Conference (MWC) coaches women’s basketball poll. They earned the top spot yet again and secured eight first-place votes. The Red Hawks are projected to claim their ninth consecutive championship title, either outright or shared.
Ripon totaled 80 points to lead the poll after capturing the outright MWC regular-season title last season with a perfect 16-0 conference record. The Red Hawks finished 26-3 overall and advanced to the second round of the NCAA DIII Tournament. Ripon’s Laney Havlovitz was named defensive player of the year last year while the coaching staff earned honors as well.
Lawrence University earned 72 points and two first-place votes to finish second in the poll. Last season the Vikings won 21 games and were 13-3 in conference play to finish second in MWC standings, qualifying for their third tournament in three years.
Cornell College collected 63 points to take third in the poll. The Rams made the tournament last year and went 15-9 overall, and 9-7 in the MWC. They look to make the tournament for the third year in a row.
Luther College followed closely in fourth with 61 points as they look to make a mark in their first season in the MWC. Grinnell College and Illinois College are tied for fifth with 44 points apiece.
Knox College finished in seventh with 31 points, followed by Lake Forest College with 21 points, Beloit College with 20 points, and Monmouth College with 14 points.
Five teams – Knox, Cornell, Beloit, Lawrence, and Lake Forest – open up the 2026-27 on Friday, November 6. MWC play begins on Saturday, November 21, with eight teams in play.
For the first time, the Midwest Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament features an expanded field of six teams who will compete for the tournament title and the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. Quarterfinal action kicks off on Tuesday, February 23 while the semifinals and finals are scheduled for Friday and Saturday (February 26-27).
Full preseason poll results and quick facts for all ten league teams are available below.
2026-27 MWC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Ripon College (8 first-place votes) - 80 points
2. Lawrence University (2) - 72 points
3. Cornell College - 63 points
4. Luther College - 61 points
5t. Grinnell College - 44 points
5t. Illinois College - 44 points
7. Knox College - 31 points
8. Lake Forest College - 21 points
9. Beloit College - 20 points
10. Monmouth College - 14 points
() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Larry Knight (3rd Season)
2025-26: 6-19 (overall); 3-13 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Brent Brase (22nd Season)
2025-26: 15-10 (overall); 9-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Erin Knowles (Junior, Forward, 2025 MWC Newcomer of the Year)
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Dana Harrold (14th Season)
2025-26: 10-14 (overall); 7-9 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Ava Wu (Sophomore, Guard, 2026 Newcomer of the Year)
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Jennifer McCormick (11th Season)
2025-26: 12-13 (overall); 8-8 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Emily Carpenter (2nd Season)
2025-26: 13-13 (overall); 11-5 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Nayeli Nidez Acuna (Senior, Guard/Forward)
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: John McGinty (1st Season)
2025-26: 3-22 (overall); 1-15 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Riley Woldt (9th Season)
2025-26: 21-6 (overall); 13-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Kate Adams (Senior, Guard), Charlotte Brennan (Senior, Point Guard)
Luther College Norse
Head Coach: Amanda Bailey (16th Season)
2025-26: 13-4 (overall); 8-8 (ARC)
All-Conference Returnees: Haylie Strum (Senior, Guard, Defensive Player of the Year), Natalie Beaver (Junior, Forward)
Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Izy Todd (1st Season)
2025-26: 8-18 (overall); 4-12 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Lauren Busalacchi (13th Season)
2025-26: 26-3 (overall); 16-0 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Laney Havlovitz (Senior, Guard, 2026 Defensive Player of the Year), Halle Van Horn (Junior, Guard), Sophie Schlieve (Senior, Forward)