PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Chatham Women's Basketball has been the most successful program in the PAC over the last three seasons. Three conference title game appearances and a 2024 PAC Championship have set high expectations for another successful season in 2025-26. The Cougars will return three starters from their PAC runners-up campaign in 2024-25 for their attempt to capture a second conference title in three seasons.
 
"We are very much so building off the culture and standard that this senior class has set over the last 4 years," said Head Coach David Saur. "Particularly Alyssa Laukus and Hannah Chenault, have done nothing but play for the conference championship since they got on campus."
 
Laukus and Chenault return to Chatham's starting five along with senior Madison Nereu, who averaged 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last season after transferring from Roanoke College. Laukus averaged 9.5 points and 5.8 rebounds, shooting a team-high .577 from the floor. Chenault, an All-PAC Honorable Mention last campaign, averaged 11.9 points per game in 2024-25, shooting a PAC-best .391 from three-point range. All three were selected to the PAC Preseason Players to Watch list.
 
While the returning starters will be key, the Cougars are expected to have a deep rotation this season, presenting opportunities for other players to make their mark. These include seniors Julia Calvin (5.0 PPG, 27 3PM in 2024-25) and Maria Barela (12.2 PPG at Maine Maritime from 2021-24), who were also named as Players to Watch by the PAC.
 
"I feel we will be legitimately 10-11 deep," said Saur. "We have an extremely veteran, championship experienced group. Majority 4th and 5th year players. Will be a fun team to watch."
 
Success has proven a result of commitment to the process over the past three seasons for Chatham Women's Basketball, and this year will be no different.
 
"Really committing to the process of daily improvement and being process driven over results will maximize our potential," Saur said. "We want to be the best version of ourselves daily, and we want to compete for a championship and play our best basketball in late February!"
 
If the Cougars are to reach their fourth consecutive PAC title game, Saur said that a team-first mentality will be a major factor in their achievements.
 
"From first years to grad students, this team has been about the team first daily," he said. "I've really liked the connectivity and team first mentality of the entire roster so far."
 
Chatham Women's Basketball will begin the season at Allegheny College, playing RIT on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. The Cougars' home opener will be a 7 p.m. matchup on Friday, Nov. 14 against Mary Washington.