TWU Starts Season Ranked Sixth With Only One Returning Starter
Madi Lumsden takes over as the lead scorer for a team that won 31 games last year, facing a roster rebuilt after five graduations.
By Matthew Collins ·
Texas Woman’s University enters the 2026-27 season ranked No. 6 in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association preseason poll, a distinction achieved while retaining only one starting player from the previous roster. The Pioneers, who finished last season with a 31-2 record, face a steep challenge in maintaining their recent dominance under head coach Beth Jillson.
Madi Lumsden, a forward who transferred from Angelo State, is the sole returning starter. Last year, she started every game and averaged 10.2 points per game while supporting a veteran core that captured back-to-back Lone Star Conference regular season and tournament titles. That core has largely departed, leaving Lumsden to anchor a group of new faces and returners in new roles.
The shift in leadership follows a period of high turnover. Jillson noted that the team graduated six players two years ago and five more after the most recent season. Despite these losses, the Pioneers maintained a record of at least 20 wins in each of the last five campaigns. The team’s latest achievement came in the Division II NCAA Tournament, where they fell at the buzzer in the South Central Regional final.
Jillson described the current season as one of the larger rebuilds of her tenure. She emphasized that the newcomers have quickly established the standard of play required to compete at a national level. The team’s high preseason ranking reflects an expectation that they will again win the Lone Star Conference, a goal shared by the players themselves.
Forward Kaylie Morgan and guard Avery McConnell, who combined to start 14 games last season as fill-ins, are expected to play larger roles. Sophomore guard Jaylee Moss, who grew into a key bench player last year, also aims for an expanded contribution. The roster includes new additions such as Calyn Dallas, a forward transferring from Utah Tech, and her sister Abby Dallas, a freshman. High school recruit Summer Sodek, an all-state guard from Flatonia, has already integrated into the lineup.
Lumsden expressed confidence in the group’s ability to gel. She credited the departing veterans for teaching her how to handle championship pressure and set the competitive tone for the locker room. She stated that the team is improving daily and that the chemistry among the new pieces is strengthening.
The Pioneers begin their season on Friday against Metro State in the DII CCA Tip-Off Classic held in Canyon, Texas.
Jillson said she is proud of Lumsden’s vocal leadership and basketball intelligence. The coach noted that Lumsden understands the system and has already stepped up in practice, providing the stability needed as the team navigates its transition.
Source: Denton Record-Chronicle
