SDSU Jacks Open Season Against Creighton

South Dakota State University women’s basketball opens the 2026-27 season on Monday night at home against Creighton. The Jackrabbits enter this matchup as the second-seeded team in the Summit League, following North Dakota State in the preseason poll. This marks a shift for SDSU, which has reached the NCAA tournament five straight times and won at least one conference title in every non-pandemic year since 2017.

The team’s standing changed when Brooklyn Meyer re-joined the roster. Meyer, who won the 2026 Mid-Major Player of the Year award, returned under the NCAA’s Five-for-Five rule. Last season, she averaged 22.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Her addition changes the depth chart significantly, particularly for sophomore Brooklynn Felchle, who stands 6-3, and senior Maggie Hartwig, who is 6-1 and struggled to secure a consistent role last year.

Head coach Aaron Johnston described the current roster as a perimeter-focused unit. He noted that the team is longer and more athletic on the wings than in previous decades. Johnston said this approach returns the program to the style of its early NCAA teams, where players over six feet tall were not the norm. The squad lost point guard Madison Mathiowetz and role player Ellie Colbeck to graduation, forcing a restructuring of the guard positions.

The return of Meyer allows younger players to step into defined roles. Junior guard Katie Vasecka, who has battled injuries in her first two years, and junior guard Emilee Fox are expected to contribute more. Sophomores Mahli Abdouch and Hadley Thul, who showed promise last season, are also ready for increased responsibility. Abdouch, a former standout at SF O'Gorman, averaged 6.0 points per game as a redshirt freshman and said the team has prepared for larger roles through practice.

Hartwig noted that the team possesses a diverse skill set compared to previous years. She said the group can rely on different players depending on who is playing well on a given night. This versatility reduces dependence on any single individual, even with Meyer back in the lineup. The team spent preseason without Meyer, which allowed the remaining players to become comfortable with expanded duties and assertive play.

Freshman Audrey Shindelar from Stewartville, Minnesota, is expected to make an immediate impact. Hillary Behrens returns after starting 12 games last season. Youngsters Abby Hoselton, Claire Sheppard, and Jaidyn Dunn are also competing for minutes. Sheppard, a former standout at Flandreau, said the team is linking arms both on and off the court, with leadership and basketball roles shared among the group.

The Jacks are 27-7 in the previous season, but the return of key players and new faces creates a different dynamic. North Dakota State, the top-seeded team, returns most of its roster, including Summit League MVP Avery Koenen. The matchup on Monday night serves as the first test of this reconfigured squad.