NEW YORK - Defending CUNY Athletic Conference women's basketball regular season champion Brooklyn was voted first in the 2026-27 women's basketball preseason coaches' poll released Thursday afternoon.  The Bulldogs received five of eight first place votes and collected 47 points.

Defending conference tournament champion Hunter received a pair of first place votes and finished with 42 points, while Lehman earned the other first place vote and garnered 35 points.  John Jay (33) and Baruch (25) rounded out the top five.

CCNY (22), Medgar Evers (13) and York (7) rounded out the poll.

The 2026-27 women's basketball Players to Watch were also announced Thursday afternoon.

Brooklyn finished the regular season 14-0 overall in conference play and reached the conference final before Hunter snapped the Bulldogs' string of five straight tournament titles in the conference final. Brooklyn finished 24-5 overall and reached the ECAC Championship title game, falling to McDaniel.

Hunter finished 20-8 and 11-3 in conference play last season, while Lehman wrapped up 2025-26 16-12 overall and 10-4 in CUNYAC play.  John Jay (8-6 CUNYAC), along with the Lightning, reached the conference semifinals a season ago.

The 2027 CUNYAC Women's Basketball Championship begins with first round games on Saturday, February 20.  The semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, February 23, with the title game Friday, February 26 at 5 pm at Brooklyn's West Quad Gymnasium in a doubleheader with the men's basketball championship game later that evening.

2026-27 CUNY Athletic Conference
Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(first place votes in parentheses)

1. Brooklyn (5) - 47
2. Hunter (2) - 42
3. Lehman (1) - 35
4. John Jay - 33
5. Baruch - 25
6. CCNY - 22
7. Medgar Evers - 13
8. York - 7

Players to Watch

Lola Idir, Baruch

Idir, a Second Team All-Conference selection last winter, averaged 12.4 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Bearcats in 2025-26. She knocked down 80 three-pointers, shooting 37% behind the arc.

Brianna Jackson, Brooklyn

Jackson averaged 13.2 points, 6.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs en route to First Team All-Conference honors. She ranked second in all of Division III in assists per game.

Blessings Joseph-Pascall, CCNY

Joseph-Pascall started all 22 games she played as a freshman last season and averaged 10.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Ali Drake, Hunter

Drake played in all 28 games with five starts and registered 4.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. She also added 28 assists on the season for the defending champs.

Michaela Lattimore, John Jay

A First Team All-Conference selection, Lattimore averaged 15.6 points and 14.8 rebounds per game in 2025-26, ranking sixth nationally in rebounding. She registered 23 double-doubles in 26 contests.

Isabela Araujo, Lehman

The 2025-26 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year, Araujo was one of four Lightning players averaging double figures, checking in at 11.9 ppg. She also grabbed 3.8 rebounds per contest and notched 59 steals.

Moutiatou Djibring, Medgar Evers

Djibring led the Cougars in rebounding (12.0 rpg) while scoring at an 11.3 ppg clip. She also recorded 20 blocked shots and reached double figures in scoring 14 times.

Beautifull Earth, York

In 18 games last season (17 starts), Earth averaged 8.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game for the Cardinals, ranking second on the squad in both categories.

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