With the 2026-27 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) women's basketball campaign nearing tip off, the conference office announced its preseason player of the year and all-conference teams today, Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Both honors were determined by a vote of the league coaches.
Grand Valley State junior forward MacKenzie Bisballe was selected as the 2026-27 GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year. Over her two seasons as a Laker, Bisballe has been one of the most impactful players in the GLIAC. A D2CCA All-American selection a season ago, Bisballe has totaled 912 points in her career, shooting 54.3% from the field, averaging over 12 per season. She has recorded five double-doubles and has grabbed 400 rebounds as a Laker. During her time in Allendale, the Lakers have posted a record of 74-3, winning two GLIAC regular season and tournament titles, two Midwest Regional crowns, and the past two National Championships. Twice voted to the GLIAC All-Defensive Team, Bisballe was a First-Team all conference selection a season ago and was the 2025 Freshman of the Year. Voted preseason GLIAC Player of the Year, Bisballe already ranks eighth in program history with 107 career blocks.
Joining Bisballe on the All-GLIAC Preseason First Team is Parkside senior guard Cassidy Arni, Wayne State senior guard McKenna Ferguson, senior forward Megan McCalla and junior guard/forward Sydney Whitehouse.
A two-time All-GLIAC honoree, Arni tied for the Parkside team-lead in scoring a year ago, averaging 13.5 points per game.
Ferguson, who ranked second in the GLIAC in scoring (16.5 ppg) and 3-point field goal percentage (.403), led the Warriors to 24 wins in 2025-26 and to the NCAA Regionals.
McCalla, a transfer from Saginaw Valley State, averaged 15.1 points per game last season, earning Second Team All-GLIAC accolades.
Whitehouse scored 9.6 points and pulled down 4.3 rebounds per game in 2025-26, helping the Wildcats to 25 wins and an NCAA Tournament berth.
Named to the preseason second team were Lake Superior State fifth-year guard Dara Capaldi, Parkside junior guard Katie Hamill, Grand Valley State redshirt junior forward Ava Scanlon and Michigan Tech senior guards Soraya Timms and Alyssa Wypych.
2026-27 GLIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
MacKenzie Bisballe, Grand Valley State
2026-27 Preseason First Team All-GLIAC
Cassidy Arni, Parkside
MacKenzie Bisballe, Grand Valley State
McKenna Ferguson, Wayne State
Megan McCalla, Ferris State
Sydney Whitehouse, Northern Michigan
2026-27 Preseason Second Team All-GLIAC
Dara Capaldi, Lake Superior State
Katie Hamill, Parkside
Ava Scanlon, Grand Valley State
Soraya Timms, Michigan Tech
Alyssa Wypych, Michigan Tech
