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Xavier University Athletics
Kanerva Named to Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
10.01.26 | Women's Basketball
The all-conference teams were announced on Thursday at BIG EAST Media Day
NEW YORK - Meri Kanerva was named to the 2026-27 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention Team on ThursdayΒ at BIG EAST Media Day. The event was held at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square.
Kanerva earns the preseason honors for the second time in as many seasons.
The Musketeers were picked to finish ninth 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 Mya MooreΒ met with members of the media on ThursdayΒ 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.
Β
1. UConn β 100 (10 first-place votes)
2. Villanova β 90 (1)
3. Creighton β 78
4. St. John's β 68
5. Seton Hall β 67
6. Marquette β 60
7. Providence β 38
8. Georgetown β 36
9. Xavier β 29
10. Butler β 21
11. DePaul β 18
Β
2026-27 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the YearΒ - Sarah Strong, UConn, Jr., F*
2026-27 BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the YearΒ - Olivia Vukosa, UConn, Fr., C*
2026-27 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
KK Arnold, UConn, Sr., G *Β
Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, So., F *
Neleigh Gessert, Creighton, So., G *
Ava Zediker, Creighton, So., G *
Halle Vice, Marquette, Sr., G *
Brooke Moore, St. John's, Sr., G
Sa'Mya Wyatt, St. John's, Jr., F
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Sr., G *
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, Jr., G *
Kennedy Henry, Villanova, So., GΒ
Β
Honorable Mention
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Sr., G
Orlagh Gormley, Providence, Jr., G
Meri Kanerva, Xavier, Jr., G
Β
Kanerva earns the preseason honors for the second time in as many seasons.
The Musketeers were picked to finish ninth 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 Mya MooreΒ met with members of the media on ThursdayΒ 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.
Β
PRESEASON COACHESΒ POLL
1. UConn β 100 (10 first-place votes)
2. Villanova β 90 (1)
3. Creighton β 78
4. St. John's β 68
5. Seton Hall β 67
6. Marquette β 60
7. Providence β 38
8. Georgetown β 36
9. Xavier β 29
10. Butler β 21
11. DePaul β 18
Β
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST
2026-27 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the YearΒ - Sarah Strong, UConn, Jr., F*
2026-27 BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the YearΒ - Olivia Vukosa, UConn, Fr., C*
2026-27 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
KK Arnold, UConn, Sr., G *Β
Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, So., F *
Neleigh Gessert, Creighton, So., G *
Ava Zediker, Creighton, So., G *
Halle Vice, Marquette, Sr., G *
Brooke Moore, St. John's, Sr., G
Sa'Mya Wyatt, St. John's, Jr., F
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Sr., G *
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, Jr., G *
Kennedy Henry, Villanova, So., GΒ
Β
Honorable Mention
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Sr., G
Orlagh Gormley, Providence, Jr., G
Meri Kanerva, Xavier, Jr., G
Β
SCHEDULE NOTES
- The Musketeers open BIG EAST action on Friday, Dec. 4 vs Marquette at Cintas Center. The game will serve as the team's Field Trip Day with tip-off slated for 11 a.m.
- The Musketeers close BIG EAST action at DePaul on Sunday, Feb. 28. The conference tournament is slated for March 5-8 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
- Xavier will play four non-conference home games at CintasΒ Center. All told, the Musketeers will play 14 home games during the 2026-27 season (10 home BIG EAST games; four non-conference games).
- Xavier is opening the season on the road for the first time since the 2023-24 season (played at Youngstown State on Nov. 8).
- Xavier will play teams from eightΒ different leagues during non-conference action: Mid-American (2), Horizon (2), Big 12 (2), Atlantic 10, Big Ten, West Coast Conference, Mountain West Conference and River States Conference. The Musketeers non-conference opponents combined to make sixΒ postseason appearances last season.
- The Musketeers look to win their second straight Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout over the Bearcats on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Xavier defeated Cincinnati, 77-70, last season at Fifth Third Arena on Dec. 7.
- Xavier is playing Purdue Fort Wayne, Dayton, Ohio and Akron for the second time in as many seasons.
- The Musketeers are playing four new opponents for the first time in school history: Air Force, IU Southeast, Santa Clara andΒ Texas Tech.
ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS
- The Musketeer return junior Meri Kanerva who averaged 10.1 points per game last season. She added a team-high 117 assists to go along with 34 steals. The guard averaged 38.3 minutes per game, ranking first in the NCAA. Kanerva finished the season ranked tied for eighth in career assist average (3.6).
- Denise Neves returns for her sophomore season after scoring 10 points in 45 minutes of action (played in 13 games). Xavier also returns Kodee Williams-SefoΒ and Mya Moore who both missed the 2025-26 season due to injuries.
- The Musketeers reached double-figure wins last season for the first time since the 2018-19 season (posted an 11-19 record).
- Β Xavier welcomes eight newcomers to the team in Kejia Ran,Β Marta Paulina Moscarella Contreras,Β Stella Mavuanga,Β Hila Karsh,Β Lucile Jerome,Β Morgan Jenkins,Β Diawna Carter-Hartley and Maria Anais Rodriguez.
- Kejia Ran was the 43rd pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream, becoming only the fourth Chinese player taken in the WNBA Draft. She played for China at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, averaging 19.1 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.
- Hila KarshΒ played at Purdue during her freshman season (2025-26), averaging 6.9 points and 2.4 assists per game. She played in 30 games, making 15 starts.
- Maria Anais Rodriguez played in 29 games (six starts) at Arkansas in 2025-26, averaging 5.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. She also played at Oklahoma State during the 2024-25 season.
- Diawna Carter-Hartley (Princeton HS) returns home after spending the 2025-26 season at South Alabama. She played in 31 games, averaging 8.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. The forward also led the team in steals with 53.
- Marta Paulina Moscarella Contreras (Columbia),Β Stella Mavuanga (France) and Lucile Jerome (France) bring extensive international experience to the program.Β Marta Paulina Moscarella Contreras was one of only 40 players selected to participate in the Women's Basketball Without Borders (BWB) All-Star Camp as a part of the 2026 WNBA All-Star Week.
- Morgan Jenkins joins the Musketeers following a standout prep season at The Newman School in Boston, Mass.
TV INFORMATION
- The 2026-27 season marks the second year of a six-year media agreement that runs through 2030- 31, encompassing coverage across FOX Sports (FOX, FS1), NBC Sports (NBC, Peacock) and TNT Sports (TNT, TBS, truTV and Max). The agreement provides extensive national broadcast, cable and direct-to-consumer streaming coverage of BIG EAST women's and men's basketball games. ESPN+ will also stream a minimum of 75 women's basketball games.
- Game times and television information will be announced the week of Oct. 5.
TICKETS
- Season tickets are on sale now at GoXavier.com/Tickets!Β Fans interested in more information can contact the Xavier Athletics Ticket OfficeΒ at 513-745-3411 ext. 7 or tickets@xavier.edu
- Single-game tickets for the upcoming season are expected to go on sale on Oct. 13.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballWednesday, September 30
Wednesday, September 30
Tuesday, September 29
Tuesday, September 29