2026-27 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Players to Watch

Women's Basketball | 11/13/2026 2:00:00 PM

SUNY Geneseo is looking to earn its third straight Empire 8 Championship, as the 2026-27 season is underway. League play begins with one game between Russell Sage and Keuka on Dec. 5. League play resumes on Jan. 5.

The top eight teams will advance to the E8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with quarterfinal action on Saturday, Feb. 20, semifinal round games on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and the championship three days later on Saturday, Feb. 27. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2026-27 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship. 

Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.
   
ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Mike Moskowitz
Jaidyn Chest, Sr., G, Mayfield, NY/Mayfield - Chest, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, is also a two-time second team all-conference selection. She earned D3hoops.com third team All-Region honors this past season. Chest ranked third in the conference in scoring where she averaged 16.7 points per game and totaled 124 rebounds, 64 assists, four blocks and 40 steals on the season. She recently surpassed 1,000 career points.

Jayda Felker, Sr., G, Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post - In 25 games for the Saxons, Felker averaged 9.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, while adding 60 assists, 12 blocks and 46 steals. 

SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Corinne Jones
Brianna Carey, Sr., G, Mechanicville, NJ/Shenendehowa - Carey, a 2025-26 second team All-Conference selection, had a fantastic junior season. She averaged 11.6 points per game shooting .427 from the floor and .318 from three. She totaled 72 rebounds, 41 assists, three blocks and 49 steals. 

Peyton Maneri, Jr., G, Auburn, NY/Auburn - Maneri, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was the 2024-25 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. She averaged 7.1 points and three rebounds per game in 2025-26. She shot for .391 percent in the field and .758 from the free throw line. She added 89 assists and 49 steals.

ELMIRA COLLEGE - Head Coach Thad Phillips
Lauren Miller, Sr., G, Pine City, NY/Mansfield - Miller averaged 9.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in 2025-26. She shot 36 percent from 3-point range. She totaled 58 assists, 10 blocks and 23 steals. 

Emma Ryan, Jr., F, Port Jefferson, NY/St. John the Baptist - Ryan, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, averaged an impressive 13.6 points per game. She shot for 44 percent from the floor and averaged five rebounds per game. 

SUNY GENESEO - Head Coach Alyssa Polosky
Audrey Hintz, Sr., F, Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy - Hintz played in 29 games for the Knights in 2025-26. She averaged 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. She shot 49 percent from the floor.

Kristin Suydam, Sr., F, Sayville, NY/Sayville - Suydam, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a second team all-conference selection in 2024-25 and a third team selection in 2025-26. She was a third team D3hoops.com all-region pick in 2024-25. She averaged 9.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season and shot 45 percent from the field. 

HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach Sarah Lombard
Macy Durkin, Sr., G, Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt - Durkin, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, is also a two-time third team all-conference selection. She led the Hawks with 281 points, 248 rebounds, 25 blocks and 74 steals and averaged 11.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. 

Meghan Paul, Jr., G, Waterford, NY/Catholic Central - Paul appeared in 25 games for the Hawks in 2025-26. She averaged 3.6 points per game and recorded 35 rebounds, 21 assists and 12 steals. She was second on the team in 3-pointers made with 21. 

HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Phil Pellegrino
Karina Crouse, Jr., F, Salamanca, NY/Salamanca - Crouse started 28 games for the Highlanders in 2025-26. She averaged 6.5 points per game and just over 4.0 rebounds.  

Olivia Simser, So., G, Constable, NY/Franklin Academy - Simser, the 2025-26 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, had a stellar first outing for the Highlanders. She earned a third team All-Conference nod and ranked fourth in the conference three-point field goal percentage. Simser averaged 8.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and added 88 assists and 51 steals. 

KEUKA COLLEGE - Head Coach Paige Emborsky
Brooke Burd, Sr., C, Canisteo, NY/Canisteo-Greenwood - Burd started 23 games for the Wolves in 2025-26. She was named third team All-Conference. She averaged a team-best 11.2 rebounds per game, putting her at second in the conference and 10 points per contest. Burd led the team and ranked fourth in the E8 with total blocks (35).

Lillian Mullen, Jr., G Canisteo, NY/Canisteo-Greenwood - Mullen, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was second in scoring for the Wolves with 271 points, averaging 11.3 points per game. She was the team-leader in steals with 30 on the season.

NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Kelly Dunne-Romig
Madalyn Kelly, Sr., G, Webster, NY/Webster Thomas - Kelly ranked fourth among Golden Flyers with 180 points and nine points per game. She tallied 48 rebounds, 31 assists, 17 steals and eight blocks.  

Sarina McDowell, Sr., F, Avon, NY/Avon - McDowell, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a 2024-25 first team all-conference selection. She ranked fourth among Golden Flyers with 239 points and 8.9 points per game. She shot 45 percent from the floor and added 150 rebounds, 36 assists, 21 steals and 13 blocks. 

SUNY POLY - Head Coach Jessica Skelton
Alysa Jackson, Sr., G, Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy - Jackson, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a 2025-26 third team All-Conference selection. She led the team with 15.2 points per game, putting her fifth in the conference. Jackson totaled 76 rebounds, 40 assists, and 56 steals.

Bryanna Lucas, So., G, Queens, NY/Queens Metropolitan - Lucas impressed in her debut season for the Wildcats. She started 14 games and averaged 6.8 points per game. She averaged 2.6 rebounds per game and added 21 assists, five blocks and 53 steals. 

RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Head Coach Michael Branche
Kallie Hopkins, Sr., F, Millsboro, DE/Poly Tech - Hopkins, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, played in all 26 contests for the Gators in 2025-26. She averaged 10 points on 40.3 percent shooting. She registered nine double-doubles and averaged 8.5 rebounds per game. 

Danielle Waldron, Sr., G/F, Cayuga, NY/Union Springs - Waldron played in 26 contests for the Gators in 2025-26. She averaged 3.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. 

ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Sarah Cartmill
Valerosa Gambitta, Jr., G, Cortland, NY/Cortland - Gambitta averaged 7.4 points and five rebounds per game in 2025-26. She totaled 51 assists, 13 blocks and 34 steals on the season. She will be expected to be a top-scorer for the Cardinals. 

Payton O'Dell, So., F, Arkport, NY/Arkport - In 22 games played for the Cardinals last season, O'Dell made her presence known in her rookie season. She averaged 4.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. 

UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Allison Coleman
Natalie Cornell, Jr., F, Greenwood, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg - Cornell appeared in 25 games for the Pioneers in 2025-26. She averaged 7.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. 

Vanessa Hall, Sr., F, Whitesville, NY/Whitesville - Hall, a three-time E8 Player to Watch and the 2023-24 E8 Co-Rookie of the Year, earned her second first team All-Conference selection last season. She was a second team all-conference selection in 2024-25. In 2023-24 she was a D3hoops.com third team All-Region pick. She ranked second in the conference in scoring where she averaged 18.2 points per game. She added 7.2 rebounds per game and shot 46 percent from the field. 

Final 2025-26 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Standings
Nazareth (22-5, 15-1 E8)
Brockport (18-8, 14-2 E8)
Houghton (22-6, 11-5 E8)
Geneseo (20-9, 11-5 E8) - League Champions
Russell Sage (15-11, 10-6 E8)
St. John Fisher (12-14, 9-7 E8)
Elmira (13-14, 7-9 E8)
Alfred (11-15, 5-11 E8)
Keuka (9-15, 4-12 E8)
Utica (8-17, 4-12 E8)
Poly (7-18, 3-13 E8)
Hartwick (6-19, 3-13 E8)

2025-26 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Tournament Recap
Saturday, February 21 – First Round (All games at Higher Seed)
No. 1 Nazareth defeated No. 8 Alfred, 75-50 – BOX SCORE
No. 7 Elmira defeated No. 2 SUNY Brockport, 77-71 – BOX SCORE
No. 3 Houghton defeated No. 6 St. John Fisher, 78-53 – BOX SCORE
No. 4 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 5 Russell Sage, 59-41 – BOX SCORE

Wednesday, February 25 – Semifinals (All games at Higher Seed)
No. 4 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 1 Nazareth, 54-48 – BOX SCORE
No. 3 Houghton defeated No. 7 Elmira, 66-48 – BOX SCORE

Saturday, February 28 - Championship Final (at Highest Remaining Seed)
No. 4 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 3 Houghton , 66-52 – BOX SCORE

2026 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Grace Galgano, Jr., F, SUNY Geneseo
 

• Jaidyn Chest, Alfred, Sr., G, Mayfield, NY/Mayfield - 2025-26 D3hoops.com Third Team All-Region
• Vanessa Hall, Utica, Sr., F, Whitesville, NY/Whitesville - 2023-24 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year, 2023-24 D3hoops.com Third Team All-Region
• Peyton Maneri, Brockport, Jr., G, Auburn, NY/Auburn - 2024-25 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
• Olivia Simser, Houghton, So., G, Constable, NY/Franklin Academy - 2025-26 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
• Kristin Suydam, Geneseo, Sr., F, Sayville, NY/Sayville - 2024-25 D3hoops.com Third Team All-Region