BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, the Gulf South Conference women’s basketball preseason all-conference selections and Newcomers to Watch were unveiled, as determined by the GSC’s 11 head coaches.
Earning a spot on the preseason All-GSC lineup was UAH senior guard Bella White, Lee junior guard Libby Privett, and Trevecca Nazarene senior guard Jordan Gillies, Union senior guard Olivia Lee, and Valdosta State senior forward Erin Whalen.
Last year, Lee and Gillies received preseason all-conference honors, before earning postseason accolades and being named First Team All-GSC alongside Gillies. Bell also garnered honorees last season as she earned a spot on the inaugural Third Team.
In addition, Lee is the conference's top returning scorer, averaging 17.0 points last season, behind 42 percent shooting from the field, and averaging 2.8 assists. Gillies immediately followed in the scoring category last season (16.1 ppg), while ranking second among conference leaders in per game assists (4.1) and blocks (1.3). Whalen meanwhile enters the 2026-27 campaign as the top conference's top rebounder after pulling down 8.6 boards per game last season. She was GSC leader last season in steals (2.4/game) and finished among the top-10 in scoring (14.0 ppg).
White was among the top five in assists, averaging 3.9 per game, while netting 9.2 points per game. Privett is the top returning scorer (11.6 ppg) for the Lady Flames from the 2025-26 season, where she converted 93-of-113 free attempts, finishing second among GSC leaders.
This year’s Newcomers to Watch represented all 11 programs and featured 30 names. The student-athletes range from freshman to fifth-year with regards to athletic eligibility and are in their first season of competition with their team.
2026-27 SEASON SCHEDULE
The 2026-27 campaign begins Friday, Nov. 6 when Olivia Lee and Union take on Harding in the D2CCA Tip Off Classic in Owensboro, Ky. The rest of the GSC start their season a week later on Friday, Nov. 13.
Conference play begins Thursday, Dec. 3 and runs until the regular season finale slated for Friday, Feb. 26. Action will pause December 21-27 as part of the NCAA Division II winter break. The 2027 GSC Women’s Basketball Championships will open with quarterfinals on March 1, followed by semifinals (March 4) and championship (March 7) round matchups.
Preseason All-GSC Team
Bella White, UAH, Sr., G
Libby Privett, Lee, Jr., G
Jordan Gillies, Trevecca Nazarene, Sr., G
Olivia Lee, Union, Sr., G
Erin Whalen, Valdosta State, Sr., F
Organized alphabetically by school
Newcomers to Watch
Clare Conzelmann, UAH, So., G
Emily Mouser, UAH, So., G
Kylie Waytashek, UAH, So., F
Rylyn Gilmore-Rose, AUM, Jr., G
Karmyn Kelly, AUM, Fr., G
Kenna Kucholtz, AUM, Fr., G
Lauryn Hunt, Christian Brothers, Sr., F
Makayla Lemelle, Christian Brothers, Jr., G
Sydney Glahn, Delta State, Fr., G
Maddie Mannion, Delta State, Fr., G
Vivian Sketoe, Delta State, Jr., G
Molly Brown, Lee, So., G
Mattie Machen, Lee, Fr., F
Emma Smith, Lee, Fr., G
Jakeria Hawkins, Mississippi Christian, Sr., G
Kameron Sanders, Mississippi Christian, Jr., G
Rebecca Wood, Mississippi Christian, Jr., G/F
Gracelyn Carmichael, Montevallo, Fr., G
Brooklyn Phillips, Montevallo, Jr., G
Bree Sexton, Montevallo, So., G
Allie Gillies, Trevecca Nazarene, Fr., G
Alyssa Petty, Trevecca Nazarene, So., F
Maria Perulles, Trevecca Nazarene, Fr., F/C
Tiara Hozumi, Union, Sr., G
Claire Hyde, Union, 5th, G
Monna Julkunen, Valdosta State, Jr., G
Madison Pounds, Valdosta State, Jr., G
Lia Edwards, West Alabama, Sr., G
Donee’ Frazier, West Alabama, Sr., C
Amiya Redus, West Alabama, Jr., G