By: Logan Anderson
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball team officially opens its 2026–27 season on Monday, November 9, traveling to Kearney, Nebraska, for a nonconference matchup against the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers. The Cougars begin the new campaign with an experienced returning core, promising young talent, and an opportunity to build early momentum against a familiar MIAA opponent.
Sioux Falls enters the season looking to build on the experience gained during the 2025–26 campaign, with several key contributors returning to lead the Cougars. Monday's matchup provides an early opportunity to establish an identity on both ends of the floor as USF begins its nonconference schedule.
Series Snapshot
Sioux Falls holds a 3–1 advantage in the all-time series against Nebraska-Kearney, having won each of the last three meetings. The Cougars claimed a 62–51 victory in the Stewart Center on November 18, 2025, continuing their success against the Lopers after previous home victories in 2013 and 2015. Monday's matchup marks USF's first trip to Kearney since November 14, 2012, when the Lopers earned a 54–45 victory in the first meeting between the programs. The Cougars will be looking for their first road win in the series.
Scouting the Lopers (0–0, 0–0 MIAA)
Nebraska-Kearney begins its 2026–27 campaign under fourth-year head coach Drew Johnson, looking to build on a 15–16 overall record and an 8–11 MIAA mark last season. The Lopers averaged 70.6 points per game while allowing 66.3, showing an ability to remain competitive through defensive pressure and timely scoring. UNK returns several experienced contributors, including Myleigh Weers, Jordan Sears, Tara Biocanin and Brinly Christensen, while welcoming a collection of newcomers to the program.
Offensively, Nebraska-Kearney shot 41.6 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from beyond the arc last season, connecting on 7.1 three-pointers per contest. The Lopers also averaged 13.6 assists per game and created additional opportunities through their defense. UNK forced 17.3 turnovers per game, collected 8.9 steals per contest and finished with a +2.5 turnover margin. Their ability to disrupt opposing offenses and turn defensive stops into scoring opportunities will provide an early challenge for Sioux Falls.
Weers headlines the returning offensive production after averaging 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game last season while knocking down 51 three-pointers. The reigning MIAA Freshman of the Year earned Third Team All-MIAA honors after leading the Lopers in scoring. Sears provides another experienced option, contributing 11.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest, while Biocanin gives the Lopers a strong interior presence at 6-foot-3 after averaging 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 58.1 percent from the floor. Christensen adds another perimeter option after connecting on 34 three-pointers last season.
Cougar Spotlight
Sioux Falls enters the new season with an experienced group looking to build on its 2025–26 campaign. The Cougars finished last season at 13–16 overall and 10–12 in NSIC play, averaging 71.0 points per game while allowing 70.9. USF shot 44.4 percent from the field and held opponents to 40.5 percent, showing its ability to generate efficient scoring opportunities while competing defensively. With several returning starters and an influx of young talent, the Cougars will look to establish a balanced attack that can create opportunities both inside and along the perimeter.
A major addition to the Cougars' lineup is the return of senior forward Kami Wadsworth, who missed the 2025–26 season due to injury. A two-time All-NSIC selection, Wadsworth enters the season with 985 career points after averaging 18.9 points per game during her sophomore campaign. She joins a returning group led by junior Anna Vaaler and sophomore Krista Langager, who combined to average 33.9 points per game last season. Vaaler led USF with 17.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest while connecting on a team-high 65 three-pointers. Langager earned NSIC Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-NSIC honors after averaging 16.2 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 61.2 percent from the field.
The Cougars also return an experienced backcourt featuring senior Ayla Ricker and junior Alexis Rose. Ricker continues to direct the offense after averaging 8.8 points, 5.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game last season, finishing with 157 assists and 55 steals. Rose provides another scoring threat after averaging 12.3 points per contest while shooting 35.8 percent from beyond the arc. Seniors Landree Wilson, Dani Minsaas, Gracie Traphagen, Hannah Harpe and Brooklyn Harpe add experience to the roster, while younger players such as Rease Murtaugh and Maya Dolliver will look to take another step forward. With a combination of established production and new opportunities throughout the rotation, Sioux Falls enters the season focused on building chemistry and finding its identity early.
Numbers Game
- Returning Firepower: Anna Vaaler and Krista Langager combined to average 33.9 points per game last season, giving Sioux Falls an established inside-out scoring combination heading into the new campaign.
- Welcome Back: Kami Wadsworth returns to the lineup with 985 career points after missing last season due to injury, adding another proven scoring option to the Cougars' offense.
- Interior Efficiency: Langager shot 61.2 percent from the field last season, converting 207 of her 338 attempts while collecting 94 offensive rebounds.
- Floor General: Ayla Ricker finished last season with 157 assists, averaging 5.4 per game while leading the Cougars with 55 steals.
- Loper Pressure: Nebraska-Kearney forced 17.3 turnovers per game last season while averaging 8.9 steals, making ball security an important factor in Monday's matchup.
- Series Advantage: Sioux Falls holds a 3–1 all-time advantage against Nebraska-Kearney and has won each of the last three meetings, including a 62–51 victory last November.
Coach's Corner
"I'm excited for this team to get rolling. We have a nice mix of veteran players and young players. Getting Wadsworth back from injury and the development of some of our younger players from a year ago put us in a nice position to compete early this season."
"Nebraska-Kearney will be a great challenge for us. We beat them at home last season, but it was right down to the end of the game. They're very well coached and have a young lady on their team named Myleigh Weers who is a very explosive player. We'll have to be better than we think we need to be when we go on the road. Again, I'm very excited to get this season started."
– Head Coach Travis Traphagen
Inside the Gym
Monday, Nov. 9 at Nebraska-Kearney
Tipoff: 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Health & Sports Center – Kearney, Neb.
Broadcast: MIAA Network (Subscription required)
Live Stats: UNK Live Stats
Next Up
Following Monday's season opener, Sioux Falls will return to action at the East/West Challenge in Aberdeen, S.D. The Cougars will face South Dakota Mines on Friday, November 20, at 2:00 p.m. before taking on Black Hills State on Saturday, November 21, at 2:00 p.m. Both contests will be played inside Wachs Arena as USF continues its early nonconference schedule.
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