SEASON PREVIEW: 2026 Madison College WolfPack Women's Basketball

Year three of the Angel Whetstone era saw the Madison College women's basketball team reach heights not seen in a decade or more. The WolfPack went 24-6, marking their first 20-win season since 2017-18 and their most in a season since 2015-16. They claimed a Region 4 championship for the first time in ten years and made their first-ever trip to the NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championships 16 years after the last appearance at the Division III event. That level of success has Whetstone and Madison College ranked #25 in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll and ready to run it back in 2026-27.

“Our goal is to build on last season’s success while continuing to raise the standard of our program. With several new players joining the team, one of our biggest challenges will be developing chemistry in a short time, and be ready to take on the region. We want to compete for another Region 4 title, that will require us to stay healthy, remain consistent, and bring a championship mindset every day.”

Returners

Two players are back from the 2025-26 roster as guard Ava Landrum and post Maddi DeSmet will help lead a team filled with new faces. DeSmet, a Second Team All-Region 4 selection as a freshman, will aim to improve upon per game averages of 11.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. She also led the team with 25 blocked shots and tracked down 26 steals as a vital part of the WolfPack's defense. Landrum appeared in all 30 games last season with two starts, and finished with 3.7 points and 1.6 rebounds, to go along with 25 assists and 15 steals. 

“Welcoming back two key returners, who played an instrumental role in leading us to the Region 4 title last season, is awesome for our new group. Their experience, leadership, and understanding of what it takes to compete at a championship level will continue to be tremendous assets to our team.”

Newcomers

The newcomers group features a trio of players with collegiate basketball experience. Guards Gracie Schmidt (Stoughton, WI) and Emani Summers (St. Louis, MO) are transfers from within the region as they join the WolfPack from Blackhawk Technical College and Milwaukee Area Technical College, respectively. Fellow guard Ellis Williams (Milwaukee, WI) is a transfer from Muskegon Community College. The rest of the new faces are true freshman and include a trio of homegrown talent. Guards Sedae Bennett and Nevaeh Jackson, along with post Ni'Kera Martin are all from Madison, WI, while guard Adee Da-Silva joins the Pack from Eswatini, Africa.

"We’re excited about our incoming class and the impact they can make on our program. Collectively, they bring strong leadership, athleticism, competitiveness, and a willingness to work. Our three transfers also bring valuable experience and a strong understanding of Region 4 competition, which will help them make an immediate impact.

Schedule

Madison College will begin the 2026-27 season with a tough gauntlet of home and away games. Moraine Valley Community College, who claimed the other district title in Region 4, is receiving votes in the preseason poll. The WolfPack and Cyclones kick off the new campaign on October 30 inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium for Youth Night. The first road game for the Pack is in Mason City, Iowa, on November 3 against #4 North Iowa Area Community College. Back home on November 5, Madison College will host Anoka-Ramsey Community College, who opens the year ranked #2 in the NJCAA Division III Preseason Poll after a run to a national runner-up finish last season. The WolfPack will play six consecutive home games between December 5 and January 5 in a heavier-than-usual slate before the mid-semester break before a Region 4 championship rematch at Rock Valley College on January 9. They will host #14 (Div. III) Joliet Junior College on January 30 for Sophomore Night, marking the last of 13 home games before wrapping up the regular season with five straight Region 4 road games in February. The Region 4 Tournament begins with a quarterfinal on February 24 before the tournament shifts to Rockford, Illinois, for the semifinals and finals. The 2026 NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship will be played in Joplin, Missouri, from March 17-22.