As legendary head coach Brenda Frese enters her 25th milestone season in College Park, the Maryland Terrapins women’s basketball team is gearing up for a highly anticipated 2026–27 campaign. Frese has a career Terps coaching record of 631-178 for a .780 wining percentage. Following a 24-9 finish and a Second Round appearance in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the Terps find themselves ranked No. 17 in the Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the preseason AP Top 25 for this upcoming season. With a refreshed roster featuring a dynamic blend of proven veterans and elite freshman talent, Maryland is positioned to make noise in a highly competitive Big Ten Conference.
Retooled Roster: Star Veterans Meet Elite Youth
The anchor of this year’s squad is senior guard Oluchi Okananwa, an All-Big Ten selection who powered the Terps last season by averaging a team-high 17.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Okananwa will lead the backcourt alongside key returners like guard Bri McDaniel and sophomore Addi Mack.
To bolster the rotation, Frese utilized the transfer portal to bring in veteran reinforcements, highlighted by former Stanford forward and All-ACC honoree Nunu Agara and Missouri transfer guard Chloe Sotell who comes to Maryland’s campus where her brother had previously played in his time for the Terps.
The excitement in College Park is further amplified by a No. 7-ranked incoming freshman class. The youth movement is spearheaded by two highly touted five-star recruits: guard Jordyn Jackson (ranked No. 8 nationally) and the versatile 6-foot-1 wing Trinity Jones. Adding size to the interior are freshmen Marya Boiko (6’5″), Oumou “Mimi” Thiero (6’5″), and London native Eva-Grace Yebila (6’4″).
A Blockbuster Schedule
Maryland will face an incredibly demanding schedule, beginning on the international stage. The Terrapins officially open the regular season on Monday, Nov. 2, in Paris, France, where they will square off against 2026 national runner-up South Carolina in the high-profile Oui-Play event.
The non-conference gauntlet does not stop there. On December 5, the Terps will head to Brooklyn, New York, to battle perennial powerhouse Connecticut at a neutral-site matchup.
Once Big Ten play begins, the XFINITY Center will host several blockbusters. The conference schedule is highlighted by a massive home game against the defending national champion UCLA Bruins, alongside crucial matchups against powerhouse programs like USC, Ohio State, and Nebraska.
Season Outlook
Though the roster leans younger than in past years, the talent ceiling remains extraordinarily high. If Okananwa can build upon her breakout junior year and the five-star freshmen transition smoothly to the physical nature of the Big Ten, Brenda Frese’s squad has all the ingredients to surpass their preseason expectations and build a deep March Madness run.
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