American Conference Women's Basketball Release - November 2

2025-26 SEASON COMMENCES

The 2025-26 women’s basketball season is set to begin on Monday, November 3. Nine teams in The American will play on opening day – all home games.

Florida Atlantic will begin their season on Tuesday, while Tulsa begins on Wednesday, UTSA travels to Texas Tech on Thursday and Rice will take on South Dakota State on Friday.

SOUTH FLORIDA NAMED FAVORITES IN PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

Defending American Conference Tournament champion South Florida has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the 2025-26 American Conference women’s basketball title in voting conducted by the league’s head coaches, the conference announced on Thursday.

The Bulls were selected as the conference favorite for a sixth consecutive season, earning 11 first-place votes and 143 total points. UTSA, the defending American Conference regular-season champion, finished second in voting with one first place vote and 119 total points. Rice earned the final first place vote and totaled 113 points to finish third. Temple (107 points) and Tulane (104 points) rounded out the top five.

North Texas finished sixth in the voting with 95 points, followed by East Carolina (82 points), Tulsa (72 points), Memphis (52 points), Charlotte (50 points), UAB (38 points), Wichita State (23 points) and Florida Atlantic (16 points).

SOUTH FLORIDA’S BRITO NAMED AMERICAN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR

South Florida senior forward Carla Brito was voted the American Preseason Player of the Year. Brito, a Second Team All-Conference selection last season, ended the season strong, guiding the Bulls to the American Conference Tournament Championship and earning the Most Outstanding Player.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC TABS FREELAND AS NEW COACH

The Florida Atlantic Owls named LeAnn Freeland the head women’s basketball coach on April 1, 2025. As head coach at both NSU (2011-25) and previously University of Indianapolis (2007-11), Freeland has won 70 percent of her career games (363-159) with six conference championships, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances in 17 seasons, four Elite Eights and one Final Four (2014). She was named Coach of the Year in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) in 2015, 2016 and 2024.

WOODS-BAXTER TAKES OVER SOUTH FLORIDA

South Florida CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins named associate head coach Michele Woods-Baxter the interim head coach of the South Florida women’s basketball program on October 23. Woods-Baxter joined the South Florida staff in August 2008 as an assistant coach and was elevated to associate head coach in 2013. During her tenure, she has helped lead the Bulls to nine 20-win seasons, 13 postseason appearances, and eight NCAA Tournament berths.

AMERICAN LOOKS FOR ANOTHER COMPETITIVE SEASON

Coming off a season where four teams reached the 20-win threshold, the American will once again feature a competitive group of teams. UTSA (26), North Texas (25-9), South Florida (23-11), Temple (20-11) and UTSA (26-5) all reached the 20-win mark a season ago.

The Bulls claimed their second American Conference Tournament championship to earn the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid. UTSA earned an invitation to the WBIT, while UAB, North Texas and Tulsa received WNIT bids.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING

A number of key players are returning from a season ago, including Rice’s Dominique Ennis (2nd Team All-Conference), South Florida’s Carla Brito (2nd Team All-Conference), UTSA’s Idara Udo (2nd Team All-Conference), Temple’s Kaylah Turner (6th Player of the Year), South Florida’s L’or Mputu (Most Improved Player) and Tulane’s Kendall Sneed (Freshman of the Year).

KAY YOW SERVANT LEADER

Temple’s Tristen Taylor and Rice’s Hailey Adams have been announced as Kay Yow Servant Leader Award winners, a prestigious award honoring student athletes who exemplify the values of leadership, selflessness, and service. These student athletes who carry forward the

legacy of the legendary women’s basketball coach, Kay Yow.

The Kay Yow Servant Leader Award honors Coach Yow’s legacy and the young people who carry the fight forward, inspiring others through their actions and leadership. It is presented annually to student-athletes who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to making a positive impact in their communities – people with a servant’s spirit and a commitment to selfless leadership both on and off the court or athletic field.

This year the award spans 22 conferences, all divisions – DI, DII, DIII and JUCO. Taylor and Adams will be wearing a patch on their jersey during the season.

NEW CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

Beginning this season, the American Basketball Championship will feature the top 10 teams in a new five-day bracket format. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will advance directly to the semifinals, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will maintain byes to the quarterfinals. The No. 5 and No. 6 seeds will receive byes to the second round. The 2026 Championship will run Tuesday through Saturday, March 10-14 at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3

Memphis vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff…….. 12 p.m.

UAB vs West Alabama……………………………. 1 p.m.

Tulane vs Campbell………………………………… 5 p.m.

Charlotte vs Auburn………………………… 5:30 p.m.

East Carolina vs UNCW…………………………. 6 p.m.

South Florida vs FIU……………………………… 6 p.m.

North Texas vs Oklahoma Christian 6:30 p.m.

Wichita State vs Lincoln (Mo.)……………. 7 p.m.

Temple vs George Mason…………………….. 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4

Florida Atlantic vs Florida Memorial…. 7 p.m.