HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – For the fourth consecutive season, James Madison women’s basketball was voted the top team in the Sun Belt Conference, while Bree Robinson (First Team), Zakiya Stephenson (Second Team), and Grace McDonough (Third Team) collected Preseason All-Sun Belt nods, as announced by the league on Monday afternoon.
The Dukes finished with 189 points and received 11 first-place votes from the league’s head coaches. Troy picked up 166 points, followed by Arkansas State (165, one first-place vote), Marshall (151, one first-place vote) and newcomer Louisiana Tech (148, one first-place vote).
JMU is coming off capturing the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Championship crown and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship for the 14th time in program history.
Robinson averaged 11.9 points, 3.2 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.3 steals last season, while starting all 35 games. An elite two-way player, the 2025-26 All-Sun Belt Defensive Team honoree finished with 111 assists and tied the program record with 82 steals in her junior campaign. Her totals made her just the third player in program history to register at least 100 assists and 75 steals in the same season, joining Jess Cichowicz (194 AST, 82 STL in 2002-03) and Donna Budd (171 AST, 78 STL in 1987-88).
The Mississauga, Ontario, native elevated play against conference foes, averaging 13.6 points and 3.0 assists, while shooting 50.2% (111-of-221) from the field and 40.6% (26-of-64) from three during the regular season through the Dukes’ title run.
Stephenson returns after posting 7.9 points and 4.1 assists per outing, finishing second in the conference in assists (145) and tied for sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.3). The guard dished out five or more helpers in 24 games and scored in double figures in nine contests. Highlights from last season include a career-high 22 points versus Georgia State and dishing out a personal-best 10 assists in a comeback win against Boston College.
In the Sun Belt tournament, Stephenson averaged 9.0 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.7 rebounds in three games, while recording just two turnovers.
As a true freshman, McDonough started all 35 games, the most in program history, averaging 6.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 63.0% (102-162) from the field. McDonough was one of nine true freshmen in Division I to start 35 or more games last season and became the first true freshman to start in an NCAA Tournament game for the Dukes since 2016.
The forward scored in double figures nine times and recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds versus Old Dominion last season. In conference play, she shot 67.7% (63-93) from the field, averaging 7.8 points and 4.4 boards per contest. Lastly, McDonough finished second on the team in blocks (21) and fourth in rebounds (129) in 2025-26.
The Dukes kick off the 2026-27 season at Miami (Ohio) as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge (Nov. 2), before returning to Harrisonburg for their home opener against Central Connecticut State (Nov. 5).
Season tickets for the women’s basketball season are on sale now at JMUTickets.com. You can pick your own seats through an interactive map that will show you specific seat views. Secure the best seats at the best value today!
Preseason Player of the Year
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State [4th | G | Sachse, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Tessa Grady, Coastal Carolina [R-Jr. | F | Dublin, Ohio]
Jordan Marshall, Louisiana Tech [3rd | F | Little Rock, Ark.]
Daisia Mitchell, App State [Sr. | G | Riverside, Calif.]
Bree Robinson, James Madison [4th | G | Mississauga, Ontario]
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State [4th | G | Sachse, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Imani Daniel, Louisiana [So. | F | Gramercy, La.]
Aniya Hubbard, Troy [5th | G | Hoover, Ala.]
Olivia Olson, Marshall [So. | G | New Smyrna Beach, Fla.]
Zakiya Stephenson, James Madison [4th | G | Virginia Beach, Va.]
Joi Williams, App State [Sr. | G | Leesburg, Va.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Kayla Cleaveland, Georgia Southern [2nd | F | Woodstock, Ga.]
Grace McDonough, James Madison [2nd | F | Harleysville, Pa.]
Chrysta Narcisse, Southern Miss [R-Jr. | G | Lafayette, La.]
Riley Stack, Old Dominion [4th | F | Piedmont, S.C.]
Alexia Weaver, Louisiana Tech [4th | G | Louisville, Ky.]
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. James Madison – 189 (11)
2. Troy – 166
3. Arkansas State – 165 (1)
4. Marshall – 151 (1)
5. Louisiana Tech – 148 (1)
6. Old Dominion – 106
T7. Coastal Carolina – 99
T7. Southern Miss – 99
9. App State – 79
10. ULM – 77
11. Georgia Southern – 62
12. South Alabama – 61
13. Louisiana – 42
14. Georgia State – 26
*Parentheses indicate first-place votes
— JMU Athletics —
