Cincinnati Bearcats 2025-26 Women’s Basketball Season Preview and Schedule

The Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball team is gearing up for an exciting 2025-26 season with head coach Katrina Merriweather at the helm. Now heading into her third year, Merriweather’s got her sights set on taking this program up a notch.

It’s an interesting mix heading into the year: some familiar faces, talented freshmen, and a couple of key transfers. The Bearcats are aiming to shake things up in the Big 12 Conference.

How quickly the new players mesh with the veterans—and how fast the freshmen catch on—could make all the difference. So, what should fans expect from Cincinnati this season?

Coaching and Recent Performance

Katrina Merriweather, a former Bearcats guard herself, steps into her third season leading her alma mater. She’s built a solid coaching resume, with stops at Memphis and Wright State before returning to Cincinnati.

Merriweather’s teams have reached the NCAA Tournament twice and made four WNIT appearances, including her debut season with the Bearcats. Last year, Cincinnati finished 15-14 overall and went 7-11 in Big 12 play, landing 10th in the conference.

The season ended with a first-round exit in the Big 12 Tournament, and there was no further postseason action. Not exactly a storybook ending, but there’s a sense that things are building.

Big 12 Journey

This marks Cincinnati’s third year in the Big 12, and so far, they haven’t snagged a regular season or tournament title. Still, you can’t ignore the steady progress under Merriweather.

With a strong recruiting class and some clever moves in the transfer portal, the Bearcats are hoping to push deeper in the conference and maybe grab a postseason spot.

Key Departures and Returning Players

The Bearcats will have to move forward without several key players from last year’s squad. Notable departures include:

• G Chloe Mann (8.5 ppg)
• G Tineya Hylton (13.6 ppg)
• G Daylee Dunn (1.1 ppg)
• G Aïcha Dia
• G Abby Holtman (2.4 ppg)
• F Brianna Byars (2.0 ppg)
• F Jillian Hayes (15.6 ppg)
• G A’riel Jackson (6.9 ppg)

Despite those losses, a handful of returners are back and ready to step up:

• G Reagan Jackson (9.2 ppg) – The only proven scorer returning from last year.
• F Ramiyah Byrd (1.3 ppg)
• F Alliance Ndiba (4.9 ppg)
• C Destiny Thomas (did not play last season)
• C Delaney Snyder (2.2 ppg)

New Additions: Transfers and Freshmen

Coach Merriweather made some moves in the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail, bringing in fresh talent. Key incoming transfers include:

• C Mary Carden (1.8 ppg at Oral Roberts) – The tallest player on the team.
• G Mya Perry (15.5 ppg at FAU) – The only player on the team who averaged double figures in college basketball last season.

The freshman class looks promising, too, with two Top 100 recruits joining:

• G Paige Whitted
• G Caliyah DeVillasee (No. 62 in ESPNW final recruiting rankings)
• G Joya Crawford – Scored more than 2,000 points in high school.
• G Dee Alexander (No. 11 in ESPNW final recruiting rankings) – A local prep star expected to start right away.
• F Kylie Torrence
• F Kali Barrett – A three-star talent who could push for playing time on the wing.

Backcourt and Frontcourt Dynamics

The backcourt looks fairly set. Reagan Jackson brings some continuity, and Mya Perry arrives with a scoring punch after a strong year at FAU.

Dee Alexander, one of the top freshmen in the country, should be ready for big minutes right out of the gate. The pressure’s definitely on, but she seems up for it.

The frontcourt, though, is more unsettled. With Jillian Hayes gone, there isn’t a clear, productive veteran to anchor things.

Still, the Bearcats have plenty of size—seven players are at least 6-foot-2. That extra height could help Cincinnati play a more physical brand of basketball in the Big 12.

Schedule and Season Outlook

The non-conference slate isn’t a cakewalk, with tests against Penn State, Xavier, and UNLV. The rest of the schedule should offer chances to rack up wins and build some momentum before Big 12 play.

Honestly, a lot comes down to how fast the freshmen adjust, since at least three are expected to see major minutes. It’s a big ask, but there’s some real excitement brewing around this group.

Season Predictions

If things go right, the Bearcats might just sneak into the Top 8 in the Big 12. It’s not a guarantee, but there’s a shot.