City of Basketball Love

By Andrew Robinson

(Ed. Note: This article is part of our 2025-26 season coverage, which will run for the six weeks preceding the first official games of the year on Nov. 4. To access all of our high school and college preview content for this season, click here.)

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As the dawn of the 2025-26 season approaches, the six D-II women’s basketball programs in the Philly area find themselves in different places.

Holy Family had its breakthrough last season, winning a CACC title and advancing to the NCAA tournament’s round of 16 and the Tigers have a whole lot coming back over in Northeast Philly. Jefferson is one of the top women’s programs in the country and while the Rams are moving on from one decorated group, their roster has plenty of talent waiting to step in.

Chestnut Hill College and West Chester University have seen some major roster turnover from last season, the Griffins bringing in a mix of recruits and transfers while the Golden Rams have swung toward an overall younger roster. Lincoln and Cheyney are also in a transitional phase as both area HBCUs have first-year coaches this season.

Here’s a look at each of the six and how they’re shaping up at the start of the 2025-26 season:

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Chestnut Hill Griffins
Coach: Megan Fox, 2nd Season (16-13, .551)
Last year: 16-13 (12-4 CACC), lost CACC Quarterfinals
Graduated/Departed: Bri Rider, Avery White, Bridie McCann, Jules DiFebbo, Caleigh Edwards, Siobhan Boylan, Emily Sekerak, Angel Sanders, Jess Mangoni, Cha'kya Johnson
Returners: Sara Tamoun (Sr | F), Kaya Mobley (Sr | F), Tikyra Miller (So | G), Anahita Jackson (So | G), Tiayo Adelekan (So | F), Anaisah Malone (So | G)
Newcomers: Bri Hicks (Sr | F), Bryce Harvey-Carr (Jr | G), Tamia Washington (Jr | G), Sabria Mann (Fr | F), Kourin Carew (Fr | F), Alli Kamulda (Fr | G), Ayrianna Sumpter (Fr | F), JoJo Mills (Fr | G)

Outlook: Year two of the Megan Fox era brings some notable change to the roster as the Griffins continue to solidify their new identity. A mix of returners, transfers and new recruits will look to build off last year’s CACC quarterfinal appearance while CHC replaces much of its offensive production from a year ago. Sophomores Tiayo Adelekan and Tikyra Miller and senior Sara Tamoun are the top returners from last season and they’ll be joined by a group looking to push the pace and create plenty of havoc defensively. The Griffins brought in three transfers and five freshmen, so there are quite a few new faces that will be suiting up in Sorgenti Arena.

Chestnut Hill was an impressive 12-4 in the CACC, third in the South Division behind conference finalists Holy Family and Jefferson. 

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Cheyney Wolves
Coach: Cassandra Taylor, 1st Season (0-0, .---)
Returners: Cianna Roberts (Sr | G), Taniyah Finney (Jr | G), Mikiyah Mallett (Jr | F), Amani Coursey-Beatty (Sr | G), Jaden Patrick (So | G), Darielle Weems (So | F), Alicia Jones (Sr | G), Nariyah Turner (Jr | G)
Newcomers: Gabby Valentinetti (Jr | G), Tori Barnes (Fr | G), Saniyah Washington (Fr | G), Eshe Know (Jr | G), Semaji Young (Jr | G), Sakina Nelson (So | G), Ikera Ellison (Fr | G)

Outlook: It’s been a challenging few years at Cheyney, the program unable to play a full season since 2021-22, limited to 12 games in 22-23 and just a handful of contests the last two seasons. However, there’s promise going into 2025-26 as Cheyney has a full roster and a full slate of games. The Wolves, who will be playing home games at Glen Mills, are competing as an independent against a mix of opposition from Division I to Division III. While statistics are incomplete for the last few seasons, the Wolves do have eight players carry over from last year

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Jefferson Rams
Coach: Tom Shirley, 36th Season (905-386, .701 overall, 756-313 at Jefferson)
Last year: 24-8 (14-2 CACC), CACC finalist, NCAA First Round
Graduated: Sam Yencha, Cassie Murphy, Emma Kuczynski, Kaya Burkhart, Janice Ashong
Returning: Emily Spratt (Jr | F), Tori Nigro (Jr | PG), Jordyn Thomas (Jr | F), Gabby Recinto (So | F), Kaci Mikulski (So | G), Carolyn Sipprell (So | F)
Newcomers: Caleigh Sperling (RS Fr | G), Ana Pellechia (RS Fr | G), Carlie Lapinski (RS Fr | F), Jade Marquez (RS Fr | G), Kylie Mulholland (Fr | G), Bella Bacani (Fr | G), Michelle Steele (Fr | F)

Outlook: It’s a bit of a passing of the torch in East Falls as a highly dedicated group that includes the last two CACC Player of the Year honorees in Sam Yencha (2024) and Cassie Murphy (2025) has made way for the next wave. While these Rams might be a little bit younger and a little less experienced, there’s still a lot of talent on the roster ready to shape the next few years of Jefferson hoops and that won’t lower expectations any. Emily Spratt and Tori Nigro enter their second seasons as full-time starters while Jordyn Thomas adds a third piece to what should be the team’s next veteran group of leaders with some younger teammates ready to step in around them.

Jefferson’s freshmen generally redshirt their first year, so it’s to be determined if any of this year’s class break from tradition and see court time this season. That does mean some of the “newcomers” have been on campus for a year including North Penn alum Caleigh Sperling, who had a strong summer playing with her teammates in the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Summer Basketball League.

Spratt (11.5 ppg), Nigro (6.3 ppg, 4.6 apg) and Gabby Recinto (8.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg) give the Rams a good trio to start with. Thomas and Carolyn Sipprell look in line for larger roles while Kaci Mikulski flashed as a perimeter threat once she was moved into the rotation and with no players in their final year of eligibility, the Rams will be able to compete this season with an eye on the future as well.

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Holy Family Tigers
Coach: Bernadette Laukitis, 7th season (99-50, .664)
Last year: 26-7 (13-3 CACC), CACC champions, NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Graduated: Carolyn Prevost, Ava Morrow, Jess Riepe
Returning: Taylor Hinkle (Sr | F), Skyler Searfoss (Sr | G), Claire Dougherty (Sr | F), Kaelah Carter (Sr | G), Kara Meredith (Jr | F), Amy Ngo (So | G), Lola Ibarrondo (So | G), Lauren Palangio (So | F), Cam Gregory (So | G)
Newcomers: Ella Brown (Fr | G | Pennridge), Dani Brusha (Fr | G | Lower Moreland), Maya Hill (Fr | G | Delaware Military Academy), Shania Howard (Fr | G | Holy Cross, Ct.)

Outlook: The Tigers had a dream season in 2024-25, spending 13 weeks with a national ranking next to their name, accumulating their most wins in a season since 2013, reaching the NCAA DII Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time and winning their first CACC title in a decade. While there’s a lot back in Northeast Philly, if any group knows how quickly fortunes can change, it’s the core of this group who saw a promising 2023-24 season derailed by injuries midway through. That, along with an already decorated senior class will provide plenty of motivation to try and replicate last year’s numerous successes with the Tigers being named to the top of the CACC preseason poll.

Four of the five players who started last year’s CACC title game return, paced by senior Taylor Hinkle, a Central Bucks South alum who averaged a double-double (12.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg) on her way to repeating as First Team All-CACC and becoming the program’s third-ever All-American as a WBCA Honorable Mention. Hinkle will have the opportunity to leave her name near the top of several individual categories this season but would trade any of that for another league title.

Skyler Searfoss is ready to go after offseason knee surgery and alongside fellow senior Kaelah Carter will lead a strong backcourt that only got deeper with the freshman class. There’s good balance up front too, with senior Claire Dougherty and sophomore Lauren Palangio a 1-2 punch at center and Archbishop Wood alum Kara Meredith adding versatility at the “3” or “4” spots as needed.

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Lincoln Lions
Coach: Alishia Mosley (First Season, Interim)
Last Season: 12-17 (7-9 CIAA)
Graduated/Departed: Anyssa Fields, Ciani Montgomery, Taylor Brown, Kaziah Akinniyi
Returning: Alaila Walker (Sr | G), Shyne Hall (So | F), Hunter Conway (Sr |G), Anyia Gibson (Jr | F), T’Nyah Riggins (Jr | G), Demaris Andrews (Sr | F), Ariana Makumi (So | F), Riley Holiday (Jr | F)
Newcomers: Cincear Parker (Fr | G), Serenity Burgess (So | G), Sanaa Moore (Fr | G), Ahna Thomas (Jr | G), Ja’Laiyah Smith (Jr | F), Autumn Edison (Fr | G)

Outlook: The Lions will have to replace nearly 33 points per game from last season as their top two scorers Anyssa Fields - who averaged a double-double - and Ciani Montgomery graduated along with fourth-leading scorer Kaziah Akinniyi’s 6.8 ppg. Aniya Gibson is the top returner for interim head coach Alisiah Mosley, who was just formally announced in late October after spending the last three years at Cheyney. Lincoln does have some size, with six players listed at 5-foot-10 or taller. The Lions will be contesting home games across three venues: Nothing But Net Sports Academy (Hockessin, Del.), Chase Fieldhouse (Wilmington, Del.), and Oxford Area High School (Oxford, Pa.).

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West Chester Golden Rams
Coach: Kiera Wooden, 12th Season (175-119, .603)
Last Season: 15-15 (11-10 PSAC) PSAC Quarterfinals
Graduated/Departed: Michelle Kozicki, Anna McTamney, Rachel Conran, Sanai Moore
Returning: Alainna Hopta (Sr | G), Sofia Coleman (Sr | G), Erin Daley (Jr | F), Kyla Glasser-Hyman (Jr | G), Bella Mazur (So | G), Ava Mazur (So | G)
Newcomers: Marianna Papazoglou (Gr | G | Penn), Zoe Kashner (Jr | F | Stevens), Aaliyah Solliday (RS Fr | G), Alivia Mauz (Fr | G), Lena Stein (Fr | F), Macie McCracken (Fr | G), Jordin Tate (Fr | F), Kimi Sayson (Fr | G), Amelia McMichael (Fr | F)

Outlook: It’s going to be a youth movement in West Chester this season as the Golden Rams turn to an underclassmen-heavy and guard-laden group to navigate a typically tough non-conference and PSAC East slate. Losing a pair of cornerstone players in Anna McTamney and Michelle Kozicki - one of the nation’s leaders in double-doubles last year - leaves a considerable void not only in production but leadership and experience. Nine players on the roster are either freshmen or sophomores, so there’s plenty of potential in the short term but also the next few years as that group develops.

Erin Daley, a Plymouth Whitemarsh alum, headlines the returning group after starting all 30 games last season and has 58 total appearances in two seasons at WCU. The 6-foot forward can do a bit of everything on the floor and will likely be relied on heavily as the rotation and newcomers settle in around her.

Marianna Papzoglou adds some experience, having played 44 games in her time at Penn, while senior Alainna Hopta is coming off her best season with the Rams having started 22 games as a junior. Sophomores Bella and Ava Mazur both saw a good amount of time last season as well, the twins now part of a backcourt group that includes six players from New Jersey.

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Beyond the CoBL Area

East Stroudsburg will have a significant piece to replace in the middle after the graduation of Emily Chmiel, last year’s national leader in double-doubles for all of Division II. Chmiel, a Central Bucks East product, turned her record-setting senior year into a pro contract in the Czech Republic. Jess Polin (Upper Dublin) is back for a fifth year, the guard having dealt with two knee injuries during her career thus far but productive when she’s been on the court and sophomore Kaitlyn McGeary (Wissahickon) returns as part of the frontcourt rotation. Owen J Robert alum Avery White transferred in from Chestnut Hill to bolster the backcourt and Mikel Lancit (Upper Moreland) joined the Warriors in this year’s freshman class.

Kutztown, which always seems to have a sizable contingent of local alums on its roster, enters the season as the reigning PSCA champions. The Golden Bears, who also had a 12-game win streak late in the season that spurred their postseason run, have to replace PSAC East Athlete of the Year Naia Pulliam but have brought in a solid transfer group including Downingtown East alum Ariana Smuda and Coatesville product Danae Ellzy. Junior Taylor Gurysh (Neshaminy), sophomores Alexa Windish (Archbishop Wood) and Kitty Randa (Hatboro-Horsham) and freshman Nadia Yemola (Lansdale Catholic) are CoBL-area alums.

Millersville will have a lot of new names in the lineup this year with just one starter returning and 11 total sophomores and freshmen on the roster. Aniya Eberhart (Haverford) is one of the five sophomores, the wing coming off a productive first year where she played her best at season’s end. Holly Gohl (Upper Moreland) also returns after joining the Marauders as a walk-on last year and could contend for more minutes while sharpshooter Gabby Bowes (Germantown Academy) came in as part of the six-player freshman class.