Flying Queens Picked Eighth in 2026-27 SAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

PLAINVIEW, Texas – The Sooner Athletic Conference has released its 2026-27 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, with the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens selected to finish eighth in the 12-team conference after receiving 62 points from the league's coaches.

The Flying Queens enter their second season under Head Coach Jordan Vessels looking to build on last year's campaign while welcoming a combination of experienced returners, transfers, and talented freshmen.

Wayland finished the 2025-26 season with a 12-16 overall record and an 11-11 mark in Sooner Athletic Conference play. The Queens secured the seventh seed in the SAC Women's Basketball Tournament before falling to second-seeded Mid-America Christian, 59-49, in the quarterfinals.

Despite the early tournament exit, the Flying Queens showed promise throughout the season and will look to take another step forward with a retooled roster featuring several familiar faces and new additions.

Returning Players

Leading the returning group is sophomore forward Brooklyn Birkenfeld, who made an immediate impact during her freshman campaign. The Nazareth, Texas, native appeared in 27 games, making 13 starts, and averaged 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest. Birkenfeld shot 46.2 percent from the field and will look to build on her strong first season with the Queens.

Senior guard Peyton North also returns after averaging 9.2 points per game in 21 appearances last season. The Lubbock, Texas, native connected on 40 three-pointers while shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc, providing the Queens with an experienced perimeter shooting threat.

Sophomore guard Bella Dabbs returns after appearing in all 28 games and making 19 starts during her freshman campaign. The Georgetown, Texas, native averaged 5.7 points per contest while contributing 57 assists and 23 steals.

Junior guard Iliana Hernandez, a Canyon, Texas, native, also returns after playing in all 28 games last season. Hernandez averaged 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while making 28 three-pointers.

Graduate guard Heaven Hayden, originally from DeSoto, Texas, brings additional collegiate experience to the backcourt after appearing in 17 games for Wayland last season. Sophomore forward Ainsley Herbert, another Georgetown native, returns after seeing action in 13 contests during her freshman year.

Newcomers and Transfers

Wayland has added four transfers who bring experience from multiple levels of collegiate basketball, including a familiar face returning to the Flying Queens.

Junior center Brooklyn Hurtado returns to Wayland after spending the 2025-26 season at NCAA Division II University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). The 6-foot-2 Cisco, Texas, native previously competed for the Flying Queens during the 2024-25 season, appearing in 26 games while averaging 5.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest. Hurtado shot an impressive 59.7 percent from the field during her previous stint at Wayland and returns to Plainview with additional collegiate experience and a familiar understanding of the program.

Junior point guard Liz Buendia joins the Flying Queens from New Mexico Junior College. The 5-foot-5 Lovington, New Mexico, native adds another experienced option to Wayland's backcourt.

Junior forward Tyanna Simpson comes to Plainview from Chipola College in Florida. Originally from Killeen, Texas, the 5-foot-11 Simpson will look to provide additional depth and versatility in the frontcourt.

Junior forward Timotea Najbrtova transfers from NCAA Division II University of Nebraska-Kearney. The 6-foot native of Drahelcice, Czechia, brings international experience and another frontcourt option to the Flying Queens.

Along with the four transfers, Wayland welcomes seven freshmen from across Texas.

The incoming backcourt includes Sophia Tolliver, a 5-foot-8 guard from Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock; Alyssa Mancias, a 5-foot-2 point guard from Anton High School; Shiliane Kent, a 5-foot-9 guard from Klein Forest High School in Houston; Townli Wheeler, a 5-foot-6 guard from Canyon High School; and also joining the backcourt is Morgan Dodd, a 5-foot-9 guard from Reagan County High School in Big Lake, Texas.

In the frontcourt, the Flying Queens add Emme Easterwood, a 6-foot-1 forward from Abernathy High School, and Brooklin Riggs, a 5-foot-11 forward from Monterey High School in Lubbock.

With a combination of veteran leadership, collegiate transfer experience, and young talent, the Flying Queens will look to establish themselves in a competitive Sooner Athletic Conference.

SAC Preseason Poll

College of the Ozarks enters the 2026-27 season as the conference favorite after receiving 114 points and seven first-place votes. The Bobcats finished last season with a 25-11 overall record and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament after finishing as the SAC Tournament runner-up.

Defending SAC Tournament champion Mid-America Christian follows in second with 104 points and one first-place vote. Nelson holds the third position with 99 points, while defending regular-season champion Langston is fourth with 92 points and four first-place votes.

Science & Arts rounds out the top five with 74 points, followed by John Brown and Texas Wesleyan. Wayland sits eighth, just two points behind Texas Wesleyan.

The Flying Queens will begin the 2026-27 season on Monday, October 26, when they host Paul Quinn College at 6 p.m. inside the Hutcherson Center in Plainview.

2026-27 SAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll

First-place votes are listed in parentheses.

SAC Women's Basketball Media Day

Watch the 2026-27 Sooner Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Media Day video:

Watch SAC Women's Basketball Media Day