Kanerva Named to Preseason All-BIG EAST Team

10.21.25 | Women's Basketball

The all-conference teams were announced on Tuesday at BIG EAST Media Day at Madison Square Garden

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

NEW YORK - Meri Kanerva was named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention Team on Tuesday at BIG EAST Media Day at Madison Square Garden. She becomes the first Musketeer to pick-up preseason all-conference honors since A'riana Gray in 2020.

The Musketeers were picked to finish 11th in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll. The poll and the preseason all-conference team were selected by the conference's 11 head coaches.

Head Coach Billi Chambers, Meri Kanerva and Mariyah Noel met with members of the media on Tuesday to preview the upcoming season. Digital assets for in-season use by the BIG EAST Digital Network and the conference's television partners were also captured during the annual event.

PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1. UConn - 100 (10 first-place votes)
2. Marquette - 85
3. Seton Hall - 80 (1)
4. Villanova - 78
5. Creighton - 61
6. St. John's - 56
7. Georgetown - 48
8. DePaul - 32
9. Butler - 30
10. Providence - 20
11. Xavier - 15

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST

2025-26 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year - Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F
2025-26 BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year - Kelis Fisher, UConn, Fr., G

2025-26 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
KK Arnold, UConn, Jr., G
Azzi Fudd, UConn, Gr., G
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Jr., G
Serah Williams, UConn, Sr., F
Skylar Forbes, Marquette, Jr., F
Halle Vice, Marquette, Jr., G
Lee Volker, Marquette, Gr., G
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Jr., G
Jada Eads, Seton Hall, So., G
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, So., G

Honorable Mention
Kate Clarke, DePaul, Sr., G
Victoria Rivera, Georgetown, Sr., G
Meri Kanerva, Xavier, So., G

ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS

Xavier returns six letterwinners from the 2024-25 season, highlighted by Meri Kanerva who was named to the All-BIG EAST Freshman Team. The guard led the team in scoring (11.2) and assists (3.4).
The Musketeers also welcome back starter Petra Oborilova. She averaged 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, while knocking down 33 three pointers (ranked third on the team).
Third-year head coach Billi Chambers welcomes eight newcomers to the team this summer, including four transfers: Savannah White (Indiana State), Mya Moore (Cleveland State), Audia Young (Auburn) and Mariyah Noel (Ole Miss).
Xavier also welcomes four freshman to the program: Penda Dieng (Louga, Senegal), Denise Neves (Lisbon, Portugal), Payton Richards (Lake Travis, Texas) and Kodee Williams-Sefo (Auckland, New Zealand).
All told, the Musketeers will have players from eight different countries on the 2025-26 roster.

TICKET INFORMATION

Buy season tickets now at GoXavier.com/Tickets. Single-game tickets are also on sale at GoXavier.com/Tickets.
For more information on season tickets, single-game tickets and group tickets, fans can contact the Xavier Athletics Ticket Office at (513) 745-3411 x7 or tickets@xavier.edu