Austin College may be the defending Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) women's basketball champion, but the Kangaroos aren't the team to beat according to the league's coaches entering the 2026-27 season.
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Colorado College tops the official SCAC preseason coaches' poll, released Oct. 21, after winning 20 games for the third consecutive season. Hendrix and Texas Lutheran also rank ahead of defending tournament champion Austin College, setting up an intriguing championship race. With returning All-Americans, new coaches and a new conference tournament destination, here are five things to know about SCAC women's basketball in 2026-27.
1. Colorado College Is The SCAC Preseason Favorite
Colorado College enters the season as the conference favorite after receiving six first-place votes and 76 points in the preseason coaches' poll.
The Tigers finished 20-6 overall and 15-1 in SCAC play last season, capturing the conference's Gold Division regular-season championship.
Colorado College returns Rayna Welsch, the reigning SCAC First-Year Player of the Year and a Second Team All-SCAC selection.
Welsch averaged 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season while shooting 52.9% from the field.
Head coach Katherine Auguste returns for her 11th season with 140 career victories, making her the winningest coach in program history.
Auguste also enters the season just two victories away from becoming the sixth coach in SCAC history to reach 100 conference wins.
2. Hendrix Returns One Of Division III's Best Players
Hendrix College finished second in the preseason poll with three first-place votes and 70 points after reaching the SCAC Tournament championship game last season.
The Warriors return senior Riley Brady, the reigning SCAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
Brady became just the third player in conference history to win both awards in the same season.
The All-American also established a new SCAC single-season record with 441 rebounds and ranked fourth nationally in NCAA Division III with 22 double-doubles.
Hendrix also returns sophomore guard Chloey-Rei Brown, who earned Second Team All-SCAC and All-Freshman Team honors after leading the conference with 109 assists.
Together, Brady and Brown averaged 30 points, 22.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game last season.
Head coach Wes Sullivan enters his third season after guiding Hendrix to a 17-11 record and its first SCAC championship game appearance since 2011.
3. Defending Champion Austin College Is Only Fourth
Austin College enters the season as the reigning SCAC Tournament champion after defeating Hendrix 55-44 in the 2026 championship game.
However, the Kangaroos received just 63 points in the preseason coaches' poll, placing fourth behind Colorado College, Hendrix and Texas Lutheran.
Austin College finished 16-12 overall and 11-5 in conference play last season.
The Kangaroos return senior guard Avory Miller, a Third Team All-SCAC selection who averaged 10.1 points per game.
Miller also led Austin College with 87 assists and 57 steals.
Head coach Olivia Hunt returns for her second season after guiding the program to its most overall and conference victories since 2019-20.
Austin College now faces the challenge of defending its championship against a field that the league's coaches believe has several stronger preseason contenders.
4. Texas Lutheran And St. Thomas Are In The Championship Conversation
Texas Lutheran received the final first-place vote in the preseason poll, finishing third with 64 points.
The Bulldogs went 19-8 overall and 13-3 in SCAC play last season, reaching the conference tournament semifinals for the eighth consecutive year.
Head coach Troy Patterson enters his sixth season with a 93-40 career record at Texas Lutheran, including a 62-18 mark in SCAC competition.
St. Thomas (TX) rounds out the preseason top five after finishing 18-6 overall last season.
The Celts return three Honorable Mention All-SCAC performers in Macie Whitfield, Kenna Gibson and Laura Jones.
The trio combined to average 28.1 points per game last season.
St. Thomas also welcomes new head coach Nathan Ghavidel, adding another storyline to the conference championship race.
2026-27 SCAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
- Colorado College (6 first-place votes) — 76 points
- Hendrix College (3) — 70
- Texas Lutheran (1) — 64
- Austin College — 63
- St. Thomas (Texas) — 48
- Ozarks (AR) — 44
- Concordia (TX) — 33
- LeTourneau — 22
- Dallas — 20
- Centenary — 10
5. The SCAC Tournament Is Moving To A Neutral Site
For the first time in conference history, the SCAC men's and women's basketball championships will be played at a neutral venue.
Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City, Louisiana, will host the 2027 championships as the conference celebrates the tournament's 25th anniversary.
The three-day event will feature the top six men's teams and top six women's teams from the 10-member conference.
The women's tournament champion will earn the SCAC's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament.
The 2026-27 SCAC basketball season begins Friday, Nov. 6, with conference media days scheduled for Monday, Oct. 26.
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