(L-R): Liberty post players Sophia Gregory, Ify Nwaobi and Emmy Stout were voted to the 2026-27 Preseason All-CUSA team.
Liberty WBB Trio Earns Preseason All-CUSA Honors; Lady Flames Picked 3rd
10/8/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Three was Liberty's number of the day on Thursday, as a trio of Lady Flames (Sophia Gregory, Ify Nwaobi and Emmy Stout) earned preseason All-CUSA honors and the team was picked by the CUSA head coaches for a third-place finish in the 2026-27 conference standings.
The top three teams in the preseason poll were tightly bunched, with defending CUSA champion Missouri State tabbed to successfully defend its crown. The Lady Bears garnered eight of 10 first-place votes and 90 total points. Middle Tennessee and Liberty received one first-place vote apiece, with the Blue Raiders finishing one point in front of the Lady Flames (84-83) for second place. Middle Tennessee (2023 and 2024), Liberty (2025) and Missouri State (2026) have combined to capture the last four CUSA titles.
FIU (fourth place, 70 points) and Sam Houston (fifth place, 60 points) rounded out the top half of the preseason poll. CUSA features 10 members for the 2026-27 season following the departure of 2025-26 regular-season champion Louisiana Tech and UTEP.
Liberty finished 18-13 overall in 2025-26, Alexis Sherard's first season as head coach. The Lady Flames went 11-7 in conference play to tie for third place and advanced to the CUSA semifinals for the third year in a row.
Nwaobi and Stout are two of Liberty's four returning starters from last season, while Youngstown State transfer Gregory headlines the Lady Flames' six newcomers. Missouri State (Preseason Player of the Year Kaemyn Bekemeier, Lainie Douglas and Maiesha Washington) was the only other CUSA team to place three players on the preseason all-conference squad.
A 6-2 junior forward from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Nwaobi earned CUSA All-Freshman Team and All-CUSA honorable mention recognition a year ago. She averaged 9.2 ppg, a CUSA-best 9.5 rpg and a team-high 1.4 bpg during her first season of collegiate competition. Nwaobi became the first freshman to pace CUSA in rebounding since the 2007-08 season and ranked No. 7 nationally in rebounding among freshmen. Nwaobi also stepped up her offensive production late in the season, setting career highs for points (22) and three-pointers (5) during a CUSA quarterfinal victory over Sam Houston.
A 6-3 junior center from San Diego, Calif., Stout is one of three All-CUSA first team selections from 2025-26 who return to the conference this season. She ranked second on the team in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounding (6.2 rpg) and blocked shots (0.7 bpg) last season. Stout, who is a preseason All-CUSA selection for the second consecutive year, recorded four 20-point games and four double-doubles as a sophomore. She tallied a season-best 22 points during a big road victory at George Mason.
A 6-2 junior forward from Alliance, Ohio, Gregory was the 2026 Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and a second team all-conference player while averaging 10.5 ppg, a conference-best 8.7 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.5 bpg and 1.7 spg for Youngstown State. She helped the 25-10 Penguins reach the 2026 Horizon League title game and the WNIT Super 16, earning Horizon League All-Tournament Team honors. Gregory recorded a 37-point, 19-rebound effort at Purdue Fort Wayne last season. She was also recognized as the 2025 Horizon League Freshman of the Year.
The Lady Flames will tip off the 2026-27 campaign on Nov. 2, welcoming Frostburg State to Liberty Arena for their first of 14 home games.
Liberty will play 18 CUSA contests this season, meeting each of the other nine conference teams twice. The Lady Flames' conference slate begins Jan. 2 at Delaware.
The 2027 Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship Liberty will return to Huntsville, Ala., for the fourth year in a row, March 9-13. The event, held in conjunction with the Conference USA Men's Basketball Championship, will take place at Propst Arena.
Sherard and Stout will take part in the 2026 CUSA Basketball Tipoff Show, slated to air on ESPN+ on Oct. 15 at noon Eastern.
Ticket Information
This year's season tickets start at just $40 for general admission tickets. Premium seating including Club seating and Loge Boxes remain available for the 2026-27 Women's Basketball season with a qualifying Flames Club membership. Faculty and staff, Letterwinner Association members and Flames Club recent grad members qualify for discounted season tickets by calling their account representative at (434) 592-5015. Visit luwbasketball.com to begin the process of purchasing women's basketball season tickets today.
Exclusive access to purchase single-game tickets at a later date will be available to Flames Club members a week early, so join today for advanced access. Membership starts at just $75. Join online at LibertyFlamesClub.org or by calling/texting 434-582-CLUB (2582).
2026-27 CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1) Missouri State (8 first-place votes) – 90 points
2) Middle Tennessee (1) – 84
3) Liberty (1) – 83
4) FIU – 70
5) Sam Houston – 60
6) Western Kentucky – 42
7) Delaware – 37
8) New Mexico State – 31
9) Jacksonville State – 29
10) Kennesaw State – 24
2026-27 CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Kaemyn Bekemeier, Missouri State
2026-27 CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Sophia Gregory, Liberty
Ify Nwaobi, Liberty
Emmy Stout, Liberty
Blair Baugus, Middle Tennessee
Mya Koné, Middle Tennessee
Kaemyn Bekemeier, Missouri State
Lainie Douglas, Missouri State
Maiesha Wasington, Missouri State
Deborah Ogayemi, Sam Houston
Trinity Rowe, Western Kentucky
The top three teams in the preseason poll were tightly bunched, with defending CUSA champion Missouri State tabbed to successfully defend its crown. The Lady Bears garnered eight of 10 first-place votes and 90 total points. Middle Tennessee and Liberty received one first-place vote apiece, with the Blue Raiders finishing one point in front of the Lady Flames (84-83) for second place. Middle Tennessee (2023 and 2024), Liberty (2025) and Missouri State (2026) have combined to capture the last four CUSA titles.
FIU (fourth place, 70 points) and Sam Houston (fifth place, 60 points) rounded out the top half of the preseason poll. CUSA features 10 members for the 2026-27 season following the departure of 2025-26 regular-season champion Louisiana Tech and UTEP.
Liberty finished 18-13 overall in 2025-26, Alexis Sherard's first season as head coach. The Lady Flames went 11-7 in conference play to tie for third place and advanced to the CUSA semifinals for the third year in a row.
Nwaobi and Stout are two of Liberty's four returning starters from last season, while Youngstown State transfer Gregory headlines the Lady Flames' six newcomers. Missouri State (Preseason Player of the Year Kaemyn Bekemeier, Lainie Douglas and Maiesha Washington) was the only other CUSA team to place three players on the preseason all-conference squad.
A 6-2 junior forward from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Nwaobi earned CUSA All-Freshman Team and All-CUSA honorable mention recognition a year ago. She averaged 9.2 ppg, a CUSA-best 9.5 rpg and a team-high 1.4 bpg during her first season of collegiate competition. Nwaobi became the first freshman to pace CUSA in rebounding since the 2007-08 season and ranked No. 7 nationally in rebounding among freshmen. Nwaobi also stepped up her offensive production late in the season, setting career highs for points (22) and three-pointers (5) during a CUSA quarterfinal victory over Sam Houston.
A 6-3 junior center from San Diego, Calif., Stout is one of three All-CUSA first team selections from 2025-26 who return to the conference this season. She ranked second on the team in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounding (6.2 rpg) and blocked shots (0.7 bpg) last season. Stout, who is a preseason All-CUSA selection for the second consecutive year, recorded four 20-point games and four double-doubles as a sophomore. She tallied a season-best 22 points during a big road victory at George Mason.
A 6-2 junior forward from Alliance, Ohio, Gregory was the 2026 Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and a second team all-conference player while averaging 10.5 ppg, a conference-best 8.7 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.5 bpg and 1.7 spg for Youngstown State. She helped the 25-10 Penguins reach the 2026 Horizon League title game and the WNIT Super 16, earning Horizon League All-Tournament Team honors. Gregory recorded a 37-point, 19-rebound effort at Purdue Fort Wayne last season. She was also recognized as the 2025 Horizon League Freshman of the Year.
The Lady Flames will tip off the 2026-27 campaign on Nov. 2, welcoming Frostburg State to Liberty Arena for their first of 14 home games.
Liberty will play 18 CUSA contests this season, meeting each of the other nine conference teams twice. The Lady Flames' conference slate begins Jan. 2 at Delaware.
The 2027 Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship Liberty will return to Huntsville, Ala., for the fourth year in a row, March 9-13. The event, held in conjunction with the Conference USA Men's Basketball Championship, will take place at Propst Arena.
Sherard and Stout will take part in the 2026 CUSA Basketball Tipoff Show, slated to air on ESPN+ on Oct. 15 at noon Eastern.
Ticket Information
This year's season tickets start at just $40 for general admission tickets. Premium seating including Club seating and Loge Boxes remain available for the 2026-27 Women's Basketball season with a qualifying Flames Club membership. Faculty and staff, Letterwinner Association members and Flames Club recent grad members qualify for discounted season tickets by calling their account representative at (434) 592-5015. Visit luwbasketball.com to begin the process of purchasing women's basketball season tickets today.
Exclusive access to purchase single-game tickets at a later date will be available to Flames Club members a week early, so join today for advanced access. Membership starts at just $75. Join online at LibertyFlamesClub.org or by calling/texting 434-582-CLUB (2582).
2026-27 CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1) Missouri State (8 first-place votes) – 90 points
2) Middle Tennessee (1) – 84
3) Liberty (1) – 83
4) FIU – 70
5) Sam Houston – 60
6) Western Kentucky – 42
7) Delaware – 37
8) New Mexico State – 31
9) Jacksonville State – 29
10) Kennesaw State – 24
2026-27 CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Kaemyn Bekemeier, Missouri State
2026-27 CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Sophia Gregory, Liberty
Ify Nwaobi, Liberty
Emmy Stout, Liberty
Blair Baugus, Middle Tennessee
Mya Koné, Middle Tennessee
Kaemyn Bekemeier, Missouri State
Lainie Douglas, Missouri State
Maiesha Wasington, Missouri State
Deborah Ogayemi, Sam Houston
Trinity Rowe, Western Kentucky
Players Mentioned
Monday, August 31
Monday, August 24
Saturday, March 14
Friday, March 13