WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — With an experienced roster, championship pedigree and a strong foundation of returning talent, William & Mary women's basketball enters the 2026-27 season looking to build on the program's recent success under fifth-year head coach Erin Dickerson Davis.
The Tribe enters the new campaign with a familiar group, as 11 of its 13 players (84.6%) return from last season's 17-14 squad. William & Mary's only additions are freshmen Denver Carlton and Skyla Mastronardi, with no players joining through the transfer portal.
Among the returners are Cassidy Geddes, Monet Dance, Natalie Fox, Marley Long, Sophia LeGoullon and Emma West, six members of the historic 2024-25 team that captured the program's first CAA championship and NCAA Tournament victory.
The Green and Gold finished 9-9 in CAA play last season, advancing to the conference quarterfinals for the second straight year. The Tribe also recorded 10 road victories, the second-most in program history, and won four of its final five games before falling to top-seeded Charleston in the CAA Championship.
William & Mary's success extended beyond the court last season, as the Tribe led the CAA in home attendance, averaging 1,081 fans per game at Kaplan Arena. The mark was the second-highest single-season attendance average in program history.
Experienced Leadership
Leading the returning group are senior guards Geddes and Dance, who have played significant roles in the program's growth over the past three seasons.
Geddes enters her senior campaign as a Preseason All-CAA First Team selection after averaging a team-high 13.7 points per game last season, ranking sixth in the conference. The reigning CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year earned All-CAA Second Team honors and became the 23rd player in program history to reach 1,000 career points.
Dance received Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention recognition after averaging 9.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. She also ranked fifth in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7) and earned CAA Player of the Week honors during her junior campaign.
"Cassidy and Monet are showing up every day like the veterans they are," Davis said. "It feels like yesterday when they first got here and also forever ago. This program has grown so much because of their commitment to being great, their dedication to their teammates, and their buy-in to this program. We are so lucky to have them as leaders to this program."
Building on Experience
Alongside its senior leadership, William & Mary returns several players looking to take another step forward.
Junior forward Fox is coming off a strong sophomore campaign in which she started all 31 games, averaging 9.3 points and a team-best 5.9 rebounds per contest. Fox also recorded 25 blocks and 13 double-digit scoring performances.
Associate head coach Dane Sparrow has been particularly impressed with Fox's offseason development.
"We are definitely proud of Natalie's development this offseason," Sparrow said. "She really took time this summer to be intentional with building up her body and getting in better shape. This has enabled her to get up and down the floor better, helping her hold her seals inside and finish stronger around the rim. We are excited to see where the hard work takes her this year!"
Long also returns after starting the final eight games of last season, while LeGoullon, West and a group of returning sophomores provide additional experience and depth.
Among those sophomores is Jordyn Steindl, who missed the entire 2025-26 season due to injury. Despite entering her second year with the program, Steindl is set to make her collegiate debut this season, giving the Tribe another new face on the court.
An Emphasis on Execution
While the Tribe brings back a familiar roster, the coaching staff has emphasized continued improvement on both ends of the floor throughout the preseason.
William & Mary averaged 14.1 assists per game last season, ranking second in the CAA, while forcing 16.9 turnovers per contest, fifth in the conference. The Tribe also ranked third in the CAA with 274 steals and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.91.
Assistant coach Kenia Cole believes improving ball security and offensive execution will be important to the team's success.
"We know that defensively we thrive when we're turning people over," Cole said. "We want to be able to flip that from an offensive standpoint, being able to take care of the ball, share the ball, have a high assist-to-turnover ratio, be one of the top leading teams in the CAA in assists per game."
Welcoming the Newcomers
William & Mary's two newcomers bring different skill sets to the court as they begin their collegiate careers.
Carlton, a 5-foot-10 guard from Ashburn, Va., averaged 24 points per game as a junior at St. James Academy and helped Team Durant capture a Nike EYBL 15U championship.
Mastronardi, a 5-foot-10 guard from Hagerstown, Md., scored more than 1,000 career points at Smithsburg High School and earned multiple Washington County Athletic Association honors.
Assistant coach Graceann Bennett has been impressed with how quickly both freshmen have adjusted to the program.
"I think we have two incredible freshmen who have assimilated well and fit in wonderfully to what we do, both from a cultural and a basketball standpoint," Bennett said. "Skyla is a super creative and crafty scorer, a sharpshooter, and has a really smooth game. Denver is a super aggressive, athletic player who gets to the rack and defends really well."
Bennett also praised the duo's work ethic and commitment to the team's culture, qualities that complement their different playing styles.
With an experienced roster and a foundation built on championship success, William & Mary enters the new season looking to take another step forward.
The Tribe officially opens its 2026-27 campaign Monday, Nov. 2, hosting Chowan at 4 p.m. inside Kaplan Arena. The contest will be the first game of a basketball doubleheader, with the men's team hosting Bridgewater at 7 p.m.
