Sports
2026 MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Preview
By: Andrew Bowlby
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The 2026 MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament kicks off March 11 in Cleveland, Ohio. The top eight MAC programs have clinched their spot in the tournament and will compete for a bid in the NCAA tournament. Here’s everything you need to know before the action tips off at Rocket Arena.
No. 1 Miami RedHawks (25-6, 16-2)
Last MAC Championship: 2008
NET Rank: 78th
Head Coach: Glenn Box, 3rd season at Miami (53-38)
Scoring Offense: 71.0 ppg (3rd) | Scoring Defense: 58.7 ppg (1st)
In many ways Miami outperformed all of the preseason expectations that were set for the RedHawks. They were picked to finish seventh in the MAC by the preseason poll but ended up winning a share of the regular season title for the first time since the 2003-04 season. They also set a new program record for most wins in a single season surpassing the 24 victories they had in the 1981-82 season.
Miami had a chance to clinch the title outright but were defeated by Ohio on the final day of the regular season. The RedHawks only other MAC loss came on a late make by UMass in mid-February. They did record two of the conference’s best wins with a series sweep of Ball State beating the Cardinals by 20 and four points.
One of the RedHawks biggest strengths this season has been there shooting. Miami ranks second in field goal percentage (37th in the nation), first in three-point shooting, and second in free throw shooting. They also excel in turnover margin with a mark of +4.94, the highest in the conference, and top 30 in the country.
The Miami offense is connected and has a number of players who can score and create problems for defenses. The RedHawks have four players averaging over 10 points per game, led by junior forward Amber Tretter. Her 14.5 points a game ranks top 10 in the MAC and her 251 rebounds this season ranks her fifth.
The offense also rolls through Tamar Singer who scores 10.6 points per game, but more importantly records 7.1 assists nightly (fourth most NCAA). Singer’s ability defensively has also helped lead the RedHawks No. 1 scoring defense in the MAC. Singer ranks second in the conference with 2.7 steals per game and 83 total on the year.
Tournament Outlook: Miami will no doubt enter the tournament as the favorite and will avoid Ball State and UMass until the title game. The RedHawks did show some potential issues in their regular season finale, but still have the most dangerous team and will have a great chance at ending an 18-year MAC Tournament title drought.
No. 2 Ball State Cardinals (25-6, 16-2)
Last MAC Championship: 2025
NET Rank: 68th
Head Coach: Brady Sallee, 14th season at Ball State (289-161)
Scoring Offense: 79.3 ppg (1st) | Scoring Defense: 66.0 (7th)
Despite losing both matchups with Miami in the regular season, Ball State earned a share of the conference title, has a higher NET ranking and enters the MAC Tournament as the defending champion. The 2025-26 season also marks the fifth-straight year that the Cardinals have recorded at least 20 wins. The driving factor for the success has been the offense. Ball State scores the most points per game in the MAC and the 20th most in the country.
The Cardinals are also entering the tournament on a hot streak winning 10 of their last 11 games. The lone loss came on the road against Miami and was the only of the 11 that Ball State did not score at least 76 points.
BSU’s duo of Tessa Towers and Bree Salenbien lead the Cardinals scoring a combined 30.4 points per game. They also grab 15.7 rebounds per game and Salenbien is second on the team in assists. The pair is critical to the success of their team and have been important players all season.
Another piece of the success has been the play of Grace Kingery. She is the third leading scorer on the team and shoots 45% from the floor and 41.2% from deep, good for third highest in the conference.
As a team Ball State is one of the best rebounding groups in not just the conference but in the nation as well. The Cardinals have a +10.2 rebound margin and average over 31 defensive boards per game.
Ball State shoots the highest percentage in the conference at 46.3%, while allowing the lowest opponent percentage at 36.9%.
Tournament Outlook: Ball State’s biggest concern heading into the conference tournament is the struggles against Miami in the regular season. There’s a decent chance they could meet again in the title game and if that happens Ball State will rely on its experience to prevail. If the Cardinals repeat as champion, they would be the first to win back-to-back in the MAC since Bowling Green in 2010 and 2011.
No. 3 UMass Minutewomen (23-6, 15-3)
Last MAC Championship: N/A
NET Rank: 97th
Head Coach: Mike Leflar, 3rd season at UMass (45-48)
Scoring Offense: 69.3 (8th) | Scoring Defense: 60.1 (2nd)
UMass enters its first MAC Tournament after joining the conference for the 2025-26 season. The Minutewomen are coming off their best regular season since 2022-23 when they went 27-7 in the Atlantic-10 Conference.
They enter as the No. 3 seed and as one of the most dangerous programs in the league. UMass is just one of two schools who was able to beat the No. 1 seed Miami RedHawks. Their three conference losses came against Miami, Ball State and Toledo.
The Minutewomen’s offense scores under 70 points per game and is the second worst among tournament teams (Toledo). However, their defense is arguably the best in the conference. UMass hold opponents to around 60 points per game while keeping them under 40% from the field and 29% from deep.
What UMass does do offensively is take care of the ball and get good shots off. They turn the ball over just 14.8 times per game which is the lowest rate in the conference. UMass spreads the ball around recording 16.4 assists per game.
Yahmani McKayle leads the Minutewomen with 146 assists on the season. She also leads the team in scoring with 16.2 points per game. McKayle plays nearly 35 minutes a night and is pivotal in helping the Minutewomen win games.
Tournament Outlook: UMass gets its first chance to compete in Cleveland and will definitely have a chance to take home the title. The biggest question will be if the Minutewomen get into matchups with the conference’s top teams can they compete for 40 minutes and win. They have the pieces to do so and are a threat to win the MAC in their first year.
No. 4 Central Michigan Chippewas (18-11, 12-6)
Last MAC Championship: 2021
NET Rank: 114th
Head Coach: Kristin Haynie, 3rd season at Central Michigan (38-50)
Scoring Offense: 69.7 (4th) | Scoring Defense: 65.6 (4th)
Central Michigan won 18 games this season after winning 30 in the previous four seasons combined. The Chippewas rank toward the top of a number of leaderboards in the MAC and have had a strong season under 3rd-year head coach Kristin Haynie.
CMU’s most dangerous weapon is in the form of sophomore guard Madi Morson. Her 20 points per game lead the MAC and rank 16th most in the nation. The 2024-25 MAC Freshman of the Year improved from last year’s campaign and has quickly become one of the conference’s best players. She also shoots the ball at 45.8% from the floor (16th MAC) and 38.8% from three (5th MAC).
One of the most important advantages CMU will take into the MAC Tournament is their rebounding advantage. The Chippewas have the highest rebounding margin in the conference at +10.3 and that also ranks top ten in the nation. It will be a critical advantage as the two of the other three teams on their side of the bracket possess negative rebounding advantages. They also grab nearly 15 offensive boards per game. Taylor Anderson and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington both rank top eight in the MAC for rebounding.
Darrington’s play down low compliments the backcourt abilities of Morson. They are one of the most dynamic duos in the conference and post significant threats to opposing defenses.
Tournament Outlook: CMU has explosive players and weapons who can make plenty of noise in single elimination games. All six of their losses have come to tournament teams meaning the Chippewas will get opportunities for revenge.
No. 5 Ohio Bobcats (17-12, 11-7)
Last MAC Championship: 2015
NET Rank: 158th
Head Coach: Bob Boldon, 13th season at Ohio (219-177)
Scoring Offense: 74.5 (2nd) | Scoring Defense: 70.6 (11th)
Ohio’s campaign this season was its best since winning 19 games in 2019-20. The Bobcats improved significantly from previous seasons and have proven difficult to beat all year long. They also head into the tournament with momentum after nearly pulling off a road win at Ball State and then defeating Miami by 15 to end the regular season.
One of the Bobcats’ best strengths and abilities is their bench scoring. Ohio gets 25.9 points per game from its bench which ranks top 20 in the country. Their starters also have done plenty of work with Bailey Tabeling scoring 14 per game leading the Bobcats.
While Ohio’s scoring defense may not reflect it, the Bobcats do have an aggressive group that challenges opposing offenses. The Bobcats force almost 12 steals per game which is the best in the MAC. The forced turnovers have led to a number of the Ohio wins this season.
A challenge they have had, however, is rebounding. The Bobcats rank in the bottom portion of the country and will have an uphill battle facing CMU in the first round. They will rely on their shooting and ability to cause chaos defensively in order to pull off upsets and advance.
Ohio did get a boost late in the season from forward Elli Garnett who scored 21 points and got 11 rebounds in the final win over Miami. Her play will be critical, especially on the boards, in order for the Bobcats to have success in Cleveland.
Tournament Outlook: Ohio has the ability to score and wreak havoc defensively, both key elements for an under-sized team looking to upset higher seeds. Head coach Bob Boldon will take his team to the tournament for an 11th time in his tenure looking for the Bobcats third ever conference tournament title.
No. 6 Toledo Rockets (15-14, 9-9)
Last MAC Championship: 2023
NET Rank: 160th
Head Coach: Ginny Boggess, 2nd season at Toledo (39-23)
Scoring Offense: 65.1 (10th) | Scoring Defense: 63.3 (3rd)
Toledo’s play all season long has been up-and-down. The Rockets started MAC play 8-5 but lost four of the last five games slumping into the conference tournament. All of those losses were by nine or fewer points.
The Rockets also have the worst scoring offense among the eight teams in the tournament, but their defense has been solid.
Where the Toledo has struggled on offense has been their shooting. The Rockets fall in the middle of the pack for field goal shooting but are 11th in three-point shooting. Since Feb. 4 Toledo has not had a game where they have shot over 45% from the field. During MAC play the Rockets have shot above 45% just five times in 18 games.
About half of Toledo’s points have been scored by a trio of guards. Kendall Carruthers (12.2), Patricia Anumgba (12.0) and Faith Fedd-Robinson (11.7) lead the Rockets offensively and all rank top 25 in MAC scoring.
One of the most interesting things about Toledo’s season is how close they have been to winning in nearly every MAC game they have played in. Of their nine losses in conference play, none have been by double digits and the Rockets have had a chance to win each time.
Tournament Outlook: From a quick look Toledo is a mid-tier MAC team, however, they compete in every game and are a tough team to beat. While they will have tough matchups as the No. 6 seed, they cannot be underestimated and if they can click offensively will be dangerous.
No. 7 Bowling Green State Falcons (17-13, 9-9)
Last MAC Championship: 2011
NET Rank: 189th
Head Coach: Fred Chmiel, 3rd season at Bowling Green (51-41)
Scoring Offense: 69.7 (5th) | Scoring Defense: 65.9 (6th)
For a sixth-consecutive season Bowling Green won at least 16 games. The Falcons possess solid offensive and defensive numbers that rank in the middle of the MAC in many categories. BG also finished the regular season winning six of their final eight games.
One area that Falcons excelled this season was in creating steals and blocks. BG ranks 33rd in the country in blocks per game and 17th in steals (1st in MAC for blocks, 2nd in MAC for steals). Johnea Donahue has been dominant defensively this season racking up over four steals per game. Her per game mark is a single season program record by over one steal per game. Her total of 113 on the season is also a program record.
The Falcons have also succeeded in making free throws. They are top 20 in made free throws per game making close to 16 a night. BG attempted more shots from the charity stripe than any other team in the MAC and shot 73.4% (4th MAC) from the line.
Paige Kohler scores 14.9 points per game for the Falcons ranking her seventh in the conference. She also records around three assists per game and is a huge part of what makes the Bowling Green offense work.
Tournament Outlook: BG enters the MAC Tournament with momentum and a group that can win. The question the Falcons have to answer is can they make enough shots? Their shooting percentages rank in the bottom tier of the conference, but they make plays defensively which will give them a chance to upset anyone in their path.
No. 8 Kent State Golden Flashes (15-15, 9-9)
Last MAC Championship: 2024
NET Rank: 167th
Head Coach: Todd Starkey, 10th season at Kent State (179-126)
Scoring Offense: 69.3 (7th) | Scoring Defense: 67.7 (8th)
Preseason polls and accolades are always difficult to judge as you never know fully what a team will be. And that happens to be the case with Kent State’s this year. The Golden Flashes were picked first by the MAC Preseason Poll and received five votes to win the conference tournament. That simply did not pan out in the regular season – but the Flashes are in the tournament and will have a chance to win.
There was also a slight drop off in the win total as Kent State won 21 games in each of the previous three seasons but only picked up 15 in this year’s regular season.
The Flashes did return 65.5% of minutes and 64.0% of scoring from last year’s team. Plus they still have a number of players on the roster that were part of the 2024 tournament championship team.
KSU has shot the ball at the third lowest rate among tournament teams and they have turned the ball over more than any other tournament team.
Mya Babbitt and Janae Tyler lead the Flashes as an inside-out combo scoring over 26 points per game. Babbitt is tied for the fourth-highest scoring mark in the MAC contributing 16.2 points per game.
KSU has been competitive in really all but one of their MAC games this season. Despite the 9-9 record, the Flashes could have easily won a few more games they fell just short in. The only game they lost by more than 10 points was against Miami on March 4. They will get a third chance to beat the RedHawks in the opening round of the tournament.
Tournament Outlook: As the No. 8 seed Kent State will have a tough path to a conference championship. That’s not to say they can’t do it though as they have experience and a strong roster that stays in games. If they find a way to upset Miami in the opening round, they’ll be a tough out.