Yale enters the 2026-27 season with a deep, experienced roster and momentum from last year’s improvements. The Bulldogs return 13 players, add six newcomers and aim to play faster, with coach Dalila Eshe identifying turnovers as a key area to improve. Yale opens Monday at home against Elms.

By the Numbers
  • 13 returning players and 6 newcomers.
  • 8 players on the roster are at least 6 feet tall.
  • Yale averaged 4.8 blocks per game last season, leading the Ivy League and ranking 27th nationally.
  • Ciniya Moore averaged 17.4 points per game, third-best in the Ivy League.
  • The schedule includes 14 Ivy League games and 15 nonconference games.
Yes, But

Yale’s returning depth and last season’s progress offer reasons for optimism, but Eshe says turnovers remain the most glaring area to address. The team will also face a challenging slate, including eight games against teams that won at least 20 games last season.

State of Play
  • Senior forward Mary Meng anchors the post after leading Yale in rebounding at 8.8 per game last season.
  • Moore returns after earning honorable mention All-Ivy honors and starting all 27 games.
  • Eshe enters her fifth season as head coach, with two new assistant coaches joining the staff.
What's Next

Yale opens Monday against Elms, then begins Ivy League play Jan. 4 against Brown. The top four Ivy League teams will advance to the conference tournament, scheduled for March 12-13 at The Palestra in Philadelphia.

Bottom Line

Yale has the size, experience and scoring talent to take another step forward. Turning that depth into faster, more disciplined basketball—especially by limiting turnovers—will be central to the Bulldogs’ season.