Senior forward Lexy Harris drives to the basket for a layup. (Anna Calvo | Staff Photographer)

Women’s basketball Head Coach Lisa Stone walked into the Field House on an off day this week and heard basketballs bouncing. Six of her players were already shooting at 7 a.m. 

“They’re a joy to coach. It’s the best part of my day to come to practice,” Stone said.

The willingness to put in extra work reflects the team’s motto: “Go Beyond.” On the court, it means digging deeper in a game’s toughest moments. Off the court, it means bringing that same commitment to academics, relationships, and preparing for life after college.

This season, the Bears hope to go beyond their deepest postseason finish in a decade. After reaching the Sweet 16 in the NCAA D-III tournament during the 2025-26 season, WashU returns most of its starting lineup with hopes of pushing further. They enter the season as the No. 7 team in the country.

Senior center Lexy Harris remains the focal point. The 6-foot-3 second-team All-American averaged 18.3 points and 9.1 rebounds while shooting 60.1% from the field last season. 

Harris returns alongside a proven backcourt led by all-UAA conference senior point guard Sidney Rogers, who averaged 12.5 points and led the team with 3.5 assists last season. Senior guard Alyssa Hughes added 10.8 points per game on 41% shooting from the 3-point line. Senior guard Catherine Goodwin is also expected to start, with senior forward Amelia Rosin or senior guard Sydney Starks filling the final spot depending on the matchup. Either combination gives the Bears an all-senior starting lineup that brings a level of experience and leadership that few other teams can match. 

Two graduate transfers help reinforce the rotation. Graduate student guard Annika Pluemer started all 63 games over her final two seasons at Division II Maryville University. Last season, she led her team with 59 steals and helped Maryville reach the D-II NCAA tournament. Graduate student forward Diana Burgher arrives after four seasons at DePauw University, where she helped them win three consecutive North Coast Athletic Conference titles. 

Junior forward Emilee Travnicek and junior guard Hope Drake are also both expected to see more minutes. 

“I’ve really liked the improvement of Emilee Travnicek,” Stone said. “I also think Hope Drake … has stood out as more than a shooter. Her defense has really improved.”

Six first-years add further competition for playing time: first-year guards Marycait Mackie, Arianna Benjamin, and Zoey Mehmert, and first-year forwards Anna Sachire, Tess Krieger, and Maddie Chabot. Stone said some are already pushing for minutes.

These additions and returners give Stone an incredibly deep rotation. The depth offers Stone more flexibility to build on a defense that held opponents to 57.7 points per game and a 35% shooting percentage last season. She is considering implementing a full-court press to further increase defensive pressure and substituting five players at a time to sustain it.

The deeper rotation could also ease the scoring burden on Harris, Rodgers, and Hughes, who, on average, combined for about 40 of WashU’s 70 points per game last season.

“I think we’re more multidimensional offensively,” Stone said. “We’ve added some new layers to our offense, and it’s going to be difficult to guard once we find rhythm and the right combinations.”

WashU’s deeper rotation will be tested against a demanding schedule. The D3 Stat Lab’s preseason model rates the Bears’ slate as the ninth-toughest among the 411 published schedules it evaluated, with UAA opponents accounting for much of that difficulty.

The Bears open conference play at home against the University of Chicago (UChicago) on Jan. 9. WashU is expected to be the second-best team in the UAA behind No. 2 New York University (NYU). The NYU Violets reached a D-III record-breaking 91-game winning streak last season (previously held by WashU with 81) before a loss in the Final Four. Additionally, they have won five consecutive UAA championships with national championship victories in 2024 and 2025. 

The Bears’ closing stretch could prove especially consequential. After four consecutive home games in February, WashU will finish with trips to Brandeis University, NYU, and UChicago. For a veteran team hoping to carry momentum into March, that final road swing will test both its depth and its ability to win away from the Field House.

The Bears enter the season with hopes of a deep playoff run, but Stone is focused on the daily work needed to meet those expectations.

“We focus very much on culture, and stacking days, and being the best we can each day,” Stone said. “If we focus on the process and getting better every day, and having a competitive edge about us and a unity about us, it can take us a long way this year.”

For the seniors, that work carries added urgency. After helping WashU reach the Sweet 16 last season, they have one final chance to take the program further.

“I think there’s a spark this year that none of the previous years have had,” Harris said. “I think we are going to surprise some people.”

WashU’s women’s basketball opens its season at 5 p.m. against Central College in the McWilliams Classic at the Field House.