Western Michigan opens its 2026-27 women’s basketball season at home against Coastal Carolina on Monday, Nov. 2, in the MAC-SBC Challenge. The 11 a.m. “Class at the Court” game welcomes local students for basketball and school-focused activities. The Broncos enter Kate Achter’s second season with five returning players and nine newcomers after finishing 9-20 last year.

By the Numbers
  • 30 regular-season games: 14 at home, 14 on the road and 2 at neutral sites.
  • Five players return; nine newcomers join the roster, including five freshmen and four transfers.
  • Returning Broncos accounted for 61% of the team’s scoring last season.
  • WMU went 9-20 overall and 5-13 in the MAC in 2025-26; nine losses were by 10 points or fewer.
  • Coastal Carolina finished 14-18 last season and returns players responsible for 40% of its scoring.
Yes, But

WMU’s returning group offers proven scoring, led by Kailey Starks and Alli Carlson, but the roster has undergone a major refresh. The Broncos are also among just three Division I women’s teams with no sophomores, making early-season development a key factor.

State of Play
  • Starks led WMU with 12.9 points per game last season; Carlson averaged 10.2 and led the team with 123 assists.
  • Coastal Carolina’s leading returning scorer, Tessa Grady, averaged 13.6 points per game in 2025-26.
  • Monday’s game is the first meeting between the programs.
What’s Next

The Broncos begin a 30-game regular season, with two neutral-site games scheduled at Cleveland State’s Viking Invite around Thanksgiving.

Bottom Line

WMU starts the season with a home crowd, a sizable influx of new players and a small but productive returning core. The opener will offer an early look at how quickly that mix comes together.