CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa --- Women's basketball was selected as the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) preseason favorite ahead of the 2026-27 season the league announced on Wednesday, Oct. 27.
 
The four-time defending conference champion Knights earned six first place votes in the preseason coaches' poll.
 
Following a fifth-straight 20-win season in 2025-26, Wartburg returns four out of five of last year's starting lineup as well as 11 players who contributed eight or more minutes per game a season ago. Wartburg's returners are highlighted by the d3hoops.com National Rookie of the Year, Katie Boulanger, as well as All-Conference honorees in Grace Hennessy, Lauren Golinghorst and Corrie Harrison.
 
Head coach Bob Amsberry enters year number 21 with Wartburg and in his tenure he has led the Knights to eight conference titles, six A-R-C tournament championships and nine trips to the NCAA Tournament. Amsberry has been named A-R-C Coach of the Year seven times in his career and has earned that honor in each of the last four seasons. Over those last four seasons, Wartburg has posted a 62-2 record in A-R-C play.
 
The Knights will begin the 2026-27 season at home for the Wartburg Tip-Off Tournament on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6-7 where Wartburg will face Carleton College and Concordia College (Minn.) inside Levick Arena.

Full Poll
1. Wartburg College - 48 (6)
2. Coe College - 43 (2)
3. Buena Vista University - 37
4. Simpson College - 32
5. Central College - 21
6. Nebraska Wesleyan University - 20
7. Loras College - 14
8. University of Dubuque - 9

From the A-R-C

Wartburg returns to this season looking to defend its league title after finishing atop the standings with a 20-7 overall record and a 15-1 conference mark last year. In his 21st season at the helm, head coach Bob Amsberry welcomes back a strong lineup featuring four all-conference honorees. Grace Hennessy and Katie Boulanger headline the returners, joined by Lauren Golinghorst and Corrie Harrison. All five starters are back, including Emma Townsley, giving the Knights continuity and experience as they aim to build on last season's championship performance. Wartburg will look to take another step forward against a challenging non-conference schedule while replacing the contributions of Lauren Donlea.

"We are looking to build on the progress we made with a very young and inexperienced team last year and are focused on taking the next steps as a program. Our non-conference schedule is very strong and will provide some early challenges as we strive to reach new levels as a team." ~ Bob Amsberry