The first opportunity for Butler fans to see the 2026-27 edition of the women's basketball team will be Saturday (Oct. 24) as the Bulldogs host Ball State for an open scrimmage. 
 
Tip-off is scheduled for noon at Hinkle Fieldhouse and admission is free. 
 
Maria Marchesano, a 2005 Butler alum, returned in April and was named the 10th head coach in program history. Marchesano's 14-year head coaching career includes 234 wins across stops at Purdue Fort Wayne (five seasons), Mount St. Mary's (four seasons), Walsh (three seasons), and Urbana (two seasons).
 
The Bulldog roster for the 2026-27 season features 13 student-athletes hailing from five different states and five different countries. Saniya Jackson returns for BU after leading the team in both rebounding and steals (in addition to finishing second on the team in scoring) a season ago. Her twin sister, Nevaeh, is also back for the Bulldogs. 
 
Karina Bystry, a Horizon League All-Freshman selection from Northern Kentucky, and Tamar Singer, a MAC All-Defensive team selection from Miami (Ohio), will look to make an immediate impact for the Bulldogs.
 
Lili Krasovec followed Marchesano from Purdue Fort Wayne, where she averaged double figures last season. Destiny Macharia also followed Marchesano and her staff from PFW to Indianapolis.  
 
The Bulldogs also added three more transfers in Judit Valero (FIU), Taya Ellis (Bowling Green) and Jacy Weisbrod (Northern Michigan).  
 
Laniah Wills, Olivia Hastings, Lexi Baer and Sage Miskel comprised Butler's 2025-26 signing class and are the four freshmen on the roster. Miskel is the daughter of former Butler men's basketball academic all-american, Chris Miskel. 
 
Marchesano and the Bulldogs will host Franklin for an exhibition on Wednesday, Oct. 28 with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. BU will then open the regular season on Monday, Nov. 2 as Tennessee Tech comes to Hinkle Fieldhouse for Butler's annual Kids Day Game that will tip off at 11 a.m.