BALTIMORE, MD — With the echoes of last season's playoff run still fresh in memory, the Notre Dame of Maryland women's basketball team is ready to tip off a new campaign full of promise, potential, and purpose. Under the leadership of Head Coach Kalin Wynn, the Gators are set to open the 2025–26 season with a balance of veteran talent, youthful energy, and a challenging schedule that will test them from day one. The United East Conference preseason poll has Notre Dame of Maryland as #6 of 14 teams in the coaches' poll.

Coach Wynn's roster features a mix of returning contributors and fresh faces eager to make an impact. The Gators return their leading scorer from the 2024-25 season junior center Amani Watts as she averaged 16.9 points per game last year. Junior forward Maya Barnett and her twin sister, guard Marecia Barnett, bring athleticism and experience to the lineup,. Returning guards Allison Holman, Yasmeen Yussuf, Jadyn Forbes, and Regina Sabirova add stability to the backcourt, combining speed and defensive toughness with shooting range. The freshman class, highlighted by Aaliyah Conteh, Tristian Savage, and Alia Austin, injects new energy into a program already known for its up-tempo style and aggressive defense.

"NDMU women's basketball is entering this season with an optimistic outlook," said coach Wynn. "We return eight players from last year's team along with seven newcomers. Among the returnees is two-time first team All United East Forward, Amani Watts. We also have promising transfers from Tacoma, Washington in Marecia and Maya Watts."

The Gators will waste no time testing themselves, opening the season on Saturday, November 8 at Alvernia. That's followed by a tough road trip to Randolph-Macon and Washington College before returning home for the home opener against Eastern Mennonite on November 15 at the MBK Sports Complex in Baltimore.

Notre Dame will continue its road-heavy non-conference slate with stops at McDaniel (Nov. 19), FDU-Florham (Dec. 3), and Valley Forge (Dec. 6). Trips to Baruch (Dec. 13) and a local matchup at UMBC on Dec. 30 add Division III and Division I flavor to the calendar. The Gators wrap up the calendar year against Goucher (Dec. 31) in what's sure to be a spirited regional rivalry.

The United East Conference season tips off at home on January 3 against Penn College, the first of five straight games in Baltimore. Conference rivals PSU-Harrisburg (Jan. 13), Salisbury (Jan. 14), PSU-Brandywine (Jan. 17), and Wilson (Jan. 21) all visit the MBK Sports Complex during that stretch — a crucial opportunity for the Gators to establish momentum early. From there, the Gators face a series of road tests, traveling to Keystone (Jan. 24), PSU-Schuylkill (Jan. 29), and PSU-Abington (Jan. 31), before returning home for matchups with Cairn (Jan. 27) and St. Mary's (Feb. 4).

The regular season closes with key home and away games against familiar United East foes — PSU-Berks (Feb. 7) in Baltimore, followed by trips to Lancaster Bible (Feb. 10) and Cedar Crest (Feb. 14). Then comes the postseason, where Notre Dame hopes to build on last year's success with a deeper run through the United East Championships, set to begin February 18 and continue through the finals on February 28.

Coach Wynn's program has steadily built a reputation for resilience and growth. With a strong returning core and a talented incoming class, this year's team looks deeper and more balanced than ever. Junior forwards Kathryn DeGrange and Raven Rowe bring rebounding strength, while guards like Madison Simmons and Holman can provide scoring. The mix of height, including 6-footers Amani Watts, Thalia Kayiranga, and Alia Austin gives Notre Dame the interior presence it's lacked in previous seasons.

Wynn emphasizes tempo, defense, and discipline — traits that could define how far this group goes. "We want to play fast, play smart, and compete every possession," he said during preseason workouts. "If we stay together and play our brand of basketball, we can accomplish a lot. 2025-2026 looks to be a promising season for the Lady Gators if the newcomers and returners can gel quickly."