As the Waynesburg University women’s basketball team prepares to tip off a new season, the program enters the season with an objective to make a strong statement in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

Head coach Sam Jones, who enters his 19th season at the helm, said that even with a good number of seniors graduating last year, the team offers a reliable core of leadership this season.

“Even with six seniors last year, we have eight this year, so there is plenty of leadership,” Jones said. “We have a few new voices as well as some that have been consistent for a while.”

Jones said that this season will feature a revamped look on the floor.

“We will look different on the offensive end,” Jones noted. “We have a mix of age and youth, and we want to play aggressive and smart basketball.”

Leading the charge on the floor is senior captain Kara McFadden, who finished second on the team in scoring last season with 264 points. McFadden has served as a team captain since her sophomore year, and has embraced her role as a leader.

“Our group is unique because we just brought in a lot of freshmen, but even though they are new to the program, we instantly connected,” McFadden said. “I think our off-court chemistry has been building us to be the best version of ourselves.”

For McFadden, she said that shift reflects how her leadership has evolved as she pushes her teammates in practice and on game days.

“My primary personal and team focus is both to make sure I’m leading my team and being there for them, and being able to push every one of them to be the best version of themselves,” McFadden said.

Coach Jones noted that playing in the PAC requires a full effort every night, expecting another tough run through the conference.

“The PAC is always strong in women’s basketball,” Jones said. “We have a lot of talented teams, and it will be a tough road.”

With a new season on the horizon, Coach Jones and the Yellow Jackets have a clear expectation heading into the upcoming season.

“Be better than last year,” Jones said. “We had some big wins and did some good things, but ultimately fell short of our goals. We want to improve and reach those.”

The Yellow Jackets begin their 2026-27 campaign on Friday, Nov. 6, on the road at Mount Aloysius. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.