The Eureka College women’s basketball team will enter the 2026-27 season with a whole new roster that looks much different than it did a year ago. After finishing the 2025-26 season with a record of 0-25, the program is going through a major rebuild with only two active returning players and nine newcomers.
The changes give the team a fresh start heading into the new season, but they also bring the challenge of rebuilding chemistry with one another and creating a new team identity. With so many new faces, the team will have to learn how to play together while also adjusting to different playing styles and experiences.
During the 2025-26 season, Eureka WBB struggled throughout the year, losing all 25 of its completed games. The team also had one game canceled against Indiana State University. The season included losses against teams such as Wisconsin Oshkosh, Wisconsin Stevens Point, Illinois Tech, Hanover, and several other opponents of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC).
Head coach Isaiah Pace said he had taken over a team that had only three active players from a roster of approximately 30 players.
According to Pace, some of the roster turnover came from coaching changes. He explained that players sometimes choose a college because of a specific coach, and when that coach leaves, those players may decide to leave also.
Now, the new roster is made up of mostly Junior College (JUCO) Transfers, with different levels of experience and talent. Pace said the newcomers bring in a strong lineup of defenders who are also well experienced and can score the ball.
The players will also have to compete for their roles on the new team. Pace said roles will be determined by what each player shows during practice and live 5v5 situations rather than being automatically assigned a certain role upfront.
For Lailah Hadley, one of only two active returning players, the changes represent more than just a whole new roster. Hadley describes last season as an experience that taught her about leadership, building a team culture, and patience as one of the team captains. She said she understood that the program needed a fresh start.
“Last season was definitely an experience,” Hadley said. “It felt like a ship that was already sinking and couldn’t be saved.”
Now, fast-forward, being one of only two returning players, this put Hadley in a difficult position. She said she completely understood what last season felt like and knows Coach Pace’s vision for the program. Her role is now to help the new players understand that vision while also leading by example.
Hadley also said she wants the newcomers to feel comfortable. Also understanding the standards of the program. She believes earning trust and building relationships amongst each other will be important as the team develops its new identity
The newcomers also have a different mindset heading into the season. Hadley said many of the players have something to prove, including players who may have been overlooked or did not receive the opportunities they wanted at previous schools.
“We’re not trying to be last year’s team. We’re trying to create our own identity,” Hadley said.
The new identity is also a major part of what Pace believes the rebuild is about, while of course winning games is very important to him. He said the foundation of the program starts with the team’s culture.
“Our players take pride in what’s going on in the now and getting better each day,” Pace said. “The biggest ingredient in the rebuild is culture and having a family-like team.”
The goals for the upcoming season are very high. Pace said the team wants to win the conference and make it to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. He also believes that this team can compete for the championship because of its competitive nature and desire to win every position.
Hadley also believes the team has the potential to surprise people. With a new group of girls, a new identity, and a chance to build a program from the ground up, she does not want to put a limit on what the team can accomplish.
As the new season approaches, the team’s progress will depend on how quickly the new players come together and turn their individual strengths into one team.
For Eureka women’s basketball, the 2026-27 season will be about more than replacing the players who left. It will be about building a new culture, developing chemistry, putting in grit, and showing what this new group can become.
