Green Bay Voted Preseason Favorite in 2026-27 Under Armour #HLWBB Preseason Poll
Tristen Bronaugh
INDIANAPOLIS (October 8, 2026) – Green Bay earned the top spot in the 2026-27 Under Armour #HLWBB Preseason Poll in voting conducted by the League’s head coaches. Oakland’s Makenzie Luerhing collected Preseason Player of the Year honors.
Dig Deeper:
- Green Bay posted a 25-9 overall record and was 17-3 in #HLWBB play last season, earning both the regular season and tournament championships.
- Preseason All-League First Team selection Meghan Schultz posted 12.6 points and 4.2 rebounds last season, shooting 57.8% for the Phoenix.
- Transfer Jorey Buwalda was voted to the Preseason All-League Second Team after posting 12.1 points and 8.7 rebounds for Milwaukee last season.
- 2025-2026 All-League Second Team Honoree Maddy Skorupski and Newcomer Elisa Mevius represent the Phoenix on the Preseason All-League Second Team.
- Skorupski scored 11.2 points for the Phoenix and ranked second in the League in assists at 4.5 per game.
- Mevius joins GB from Oregon where she averaged 12.5 points through two games until suffering a season ending injury.
- Youngstown State advanced to the final of the 2026 #HLWBB championship, collecting 15 league wins during the regular season and 25 total wins last season.
- 2025-26 All-Freshman Team honoree Sarah Baker was voted to Preseason All-League First Team after posting 10.7 points for the Penguins, starting in all 35 games.
- Preseason All-League First Team selection Jada Leonard posted 12 points, 3.0 assists and 2.9 steals last season for Cleveland State.
- RMU was 18-12 last season, posting a 11-9 record in League play.
- Preseason All-League Team honoree Myriam Traore returns to Bobby Mo to lead the Colonials after averaging 11.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 2025-26.
- Oakland won 10 games last season, going 7-13 in #HLWBB play.
- Preseason Player of the Year Makenzie Luehring was the Freshman of the Year in 2025-26, averaging 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
- Olivia Smith scored 10.6 points and added 3.8 rebounds per game for IU Indianapolis.
- NIU joins #HLWBB this season with Preseason All-League Second Team selection Nevaeh Wingate.
- Wingate led the Huskies in points, rebounds and steals averaging 13.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals last season.
- The regular season starts on Monday, Nov. 2 with Horizon League play scheduled to begin on Thursday, Dec. 3.
- The 2027 Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships are scheduled to culminate at the Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville, Ind. from March 7-9 with the mantra #MarchStartsHere.
- More information on the championships can be found at HorizonLeague.com/Noblesville.
2026-27 Under Armour #HLWBB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts.
1. Green Bay – 142
2. Youngstown State – 132
3. RMU – 112
4. Oakland – 108
5. IU Indianapolis – 86
6. Northern Kentucky – 79
7. Cleveland State – 68
8. NIU – 54
9. Detroit Mercy – 51
10. Milwaukee – 40
11. Purdue Fort Wayne – 34
12. Wright State – 30
#HLWBB Preseason Player of the Year
Makenzie Luehring, Oakland
Preseason All-League First Team
Meghan Schultz, Green Bay
Makenzie Luehring, Oakland
Myriam Traore, RMU
Sarah Baker, Youngstown State
Jada Leonard, Youngstown State
Preseason All-League Second Team
Jorey Buwalda, Green Bay
Elisa Mevius, Green Bay
Maddy Skorupski, Green Bay
Olivia Smith, IU Indianapolis
Neveah Wingate, NIU
Returning 2025-26 #HLWBB All-League Selections
Jorey Buwalda, Green Bay (All-League Third Team)
Meghan Schultz, Green Bay (All-League Third Team)
Maddy Skorupski, Green Bay (All-League Second Team)
Makenzie Luehring, Oakland (All-League First Team, Freshman of the Year & All-Freshman Team)
Myriam Traore, RMU (All-League Third Team)
Sarah Baker, Youngstown State (All-Freshman Team)
Jada Leonard, Youngstown State (All-Defensive Team)