IMMACULATA, Pa. – The Immaculata women's basketball team is putting the finishing touches on preparations for its 2026-27 season opener on Saturday, when the Mighty Macs travel to Northampton, Massachusetts, to take on No. 5 Smith College in the Tyler Tip-Off Tournament.

The Mighty Macs return to court following another historic campaign in 2025-26, producing one of the best seasons in the program's NCAA era (1982-present). Immaculata finished with an overall record of 24-4, including a perfect 14-0 mark in Atlantic East Conference play, capturing its second consecutive Atlantic East Conference Championship and third overall while earning the program's third NCAA Tournament appearance.

As Immaculata prepares for its final season in the Atlantic East Conference, the Mighty Macs will look to build upon that success while taking on an elevated non-conference schedule featuring several nationally recognized opponents. The challenging slate begins right out of the gate, as Immaculata opens the season against No. 5 Smith College, one of the nation's top-ranked programs, at the Tyler Tip-Off Tournament in Northampton, MA. The matchup will receive additional national attention, as Smith College is bringing in ESPN announcers for an ESPN-style Division III GameDay production, with the game streamed live on YouTube and Amazon Prime. Depending on Saturday's results, Immaculata will face either St. Lawrence or Hartford on Sunday. Game on Saturday is at 4 p.m. The pregame show "Gameday at the Birthplace" hosted  by ESPN analyst Christy Thomaskutty and TV personality Jalynn Holmes, is at 3 p.m. Go to gomightymacs.com for links to the livestream and pregame show.

The Mighty Macs will continue their challenging non-conference schedule in December when they travel to compete in the Moravian University Steel Club Tournament, where they will face Ithaca College. Immaculata will also travel to take on No. 2 NYU in January, providing another opportunity to test itself against one of the nation's premier Division III programs. The Mighty Macs will additionally welcome Salisbury University to Alumnae Hall for a challenging non-conference matchup, further strengthening a schedule designed to prepare Immaculata for another potential postseason run.

PRESEASON OVERVIEW

Immaculata enters the 2026-27 season as the favorite to capture the final Atlantic East Conference Championship, earning the top spot in the AEC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Mighty Macs received 25 points and five first-place votes. Marymount finished second with 19 points and one first-place vote, followed by Gwynedd Mercy in third with 18 points. Saint Elizabeth placed fourth with 13 points, while Centenary (eight points) and Pratt (seven points) rounded out the poll.

This season marks the Mighty Macs' final campaign as a member of the Atlantic East Conference, as Immaculata, Centenary, Gwynedd Mercy, and Marymount will join the United East Conference beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. Pratt and Saint Elizabeth will join the City Collegiate Conference, currently known as the CUNYAC, for the 2027-28 season.

Junior Carly Coleman, the reigning 2025-26 Atlantic East Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, was named to the D3hoops.com Preseason All-America Fifth Team this week. Coleman, who earned All-AEC First Team honors last season, was also named the Atlantic East Conference Tournament MVP in 2026.

Sophomore Abby Grillo returns following a standout debut season in which she was named the 2025-26 Atlantic East Conference Rookie of the Year and earned All-AEC Second Team honors.

With the Atlantic East Conference Tournament field limited to the top four teams in the conference standings, the Mighty Macs will look to secure one of those coveted postseason positions while pursuing another conference championship.

Immaculata has utilized a pair of preseason scrimmages against Swarthmore College and Muhlenberg College to prepare for the upcoming campaign.

ROSTER CHECK

The 2026-27 Immaculata women's basketball roster features a mix of experience and youth, with 13 returning players, including three seniors, and three freshmen joining the program.

The Mighty Macs will be led by their team captains: senior Meg Robbins (Collegeville, Pa. / Spring-Ford), junior Carly Coleman (Springfield, Pa. / Cardinal O'Hara), and sophomore Sabrina Little (Egg Harbor Township, N.J. / Holy Spirit).
Joining Robbins in the senior class are Julia Pohl (Bethlehem, Pa. / Notre Dame HS) and Emma Wagner (Beachwood, N.J. / Toms River South), who will provide valuable experience and depth for Immaculata.

The junior class also features Coleman, along with Katie McGuigan (Villas, N.J. / Lower Cape May Regional) and Cassidy Perri (Hammonton, N.J. / St. Joseph's Academy), who are expected to compete for expanded roles this season.

Rounding out the returning group are sophomores, including Little, Lianna Adames (Willow Grove, Pa. / Upper Moreland), Keira Benoit (Wilmington, Del. / Delaware Military Academy), Adriana Bristow (Vineland, N.J. / Our Lady of Mercy Academy), Abby Grillo (Wilmington, Del. / Padua Academy), Sofia Kouridakis (Bridgewater, N.J. / Immaculata HS), and Morgan Robinson (Wilmington, Del. / Charter School of Wilmington). Each will look to build upon their freshman campaigns and compete for important roles in the Mighty Macs' rotation.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM

In addition to the core group of returning players, Immaculata welcomes a talented incoming class of three freshmen who will look to make an immediate impact for the Mighty Macs.

The incoming class includes Reilly Byrnes (Absecon, N.J. / Holy Spirit), Kiersten Callahan (Haddon Township, N.J. / Haddon Township), and Alaina Picard (Harleysville, Pa. / Souderton).

COACHING STAFF UPDATE

Head Coach Brittany Whalen returns for her fourth season as Head Coach of the Immaculata women's basketball team.
Assistant coaches Dave Parker, Chelsea Turgeon, and John Flood return for another season with the Mighty Macs.

There will be one new addition to the women's basketball coaching staff for the 2026-27 season.

Joining the Immaculata women's basketball coaching staff is program alumna Tessa Liberatoscioli, who returns to Alumnae Hall to join the coaching staff.

HOME OPENER

The Immaculata women's basketball team will return home to Alumnae Hall for its home opener on Saturday, November 14, when the Mighty Macs host Penn State Brandywine at 1 p.m. Before the game, Immaculata will unveil its 2025-26 Atlantic East Conference Championship banner, celebrating another historic season for the program.