By: Logan Anderson
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball team has been selected to finish third in the 2026-27 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 185 points and five first-place votes. The Cougars enter the upcoming season with high expectations as standout forward
Kami Wadsworth has been named USF's NSIC Player to Watch.
Sioux Falls received the second-most first-place votes in the conference, trailing only preseason favorite Minnesota State, which collected six first-place votes and 215 points. Concordia-St. Paul was picked second with 194 points and four first-place votes, while UMary rounded out the top four with 174 points and one first-place vote.
The Cougars' preseason recognition reflects the expectations surrounding a roster that features increased experience, depth and versatility under head coach
Travis Traphagen. With a combination of returning talent and an emphasis on balanced production, Sioux Falls looks to establish itself among the conference's top contenders during the 2026-27 campaign.
"What excites me about this year's team is I expect to have tremendous balance. I believe that we have much more depth than last year and also have much more experience. Our team is a very close-knit group, and if we commit to playing together on both the offensive and defensive side of the basketball, we could have a high ceiling. I have tremendous respect for the other teams in the NSIC, so we will have to work hard to reach our goals, which are high for us."
-Head Coach, Travis Traphagen
Wadsworth Named NSIC Player to Watch
Highlighting the Cougars' returners is Wadsworth, a two-time All-NSIC selection who looks to make an immediate impact following a season-ending injury during the 2025-26 campaign. The Hayti, South Dakota, native enters the upcoming season as one of the conference's most accomplished scorers, having accumulated 985 career points through her first two collegiate seasons.
Just 15 points shy of becoming a 1,000-point scorer, Wadsworth has averaged 17.0 points and 4.7 rebounds across 58 career starts, adding 273 rebounds, 119 assists and 48 steals. Her ability to score both inside and beyond the arc provides the Cougars with a versatile offensive threat as she prepares to return to the floor.
"Kami averaged 19 points per game during the 2024-25 season before an injury ended her 2025-26 season. She is very versatile and a matchup problem for a lot of teams because of her inside-outside presence. She shot 49% from the field and 45% from the three-point line."
-Head Coach, Travis Traphagen
During her sophomore campaign in 2024-25, Wadsworth earned First Team All-NSIC honors after delivering one of the most productive individual seasons in USF's NCAA Division II era. She averaged 18.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 48.3 percent from the field, 44.9 percent from three-point range and 86.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Her 585 total points established a USF Division II-era single-season scoring record, while her 18.9 points per game also set a new program DII benchmark. Wadsworth reached double figures in 29 of 31 contests, scored 20 or more points on 12 occasions and surpassed the 30-point mark twice, including a career-high 31-point performance against Northern State.
Wadsworth also set USF Division II-era single-season records for free throws made (126) and attempted (146), earned two NSIC Shining 5 recognitions and received College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.
Her standout sophomore campaign followed an impressive freshman season in 2023-24, when she was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year and World Exposure Report NCAA Division II Freshman of the Year. Wadsworth averaged 14.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game during her debut season, totaling 400 points across 27 starts.
With a decorated collegiate résumé and a return to competition on the horizon, Wadsworth provides Sioux Falls with an experienced offensive presence as the Cougars prepare for another competitive NSIC season.
SINGLE GAME & SEASON TICKET
Single game tickets are now available for the 2026-27 season. Upon purchase, fans will receive an order confirmation via email. Tickets will be accessible through their online account, and fans are encouraged to download and save tickets to their Apple Wallet or Google Wallet for the most efficient entry on gameday.
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