In just under a month, both Wayne State College women's and men's basketball teams will be opening preseason play with home competition right around the corner.
According to a release from Wayne State Athletics, the Wayne State women's basketball team was picked 13th in the 2025-26 NSIC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll while the Wildcat men was voted 10th.
Senior forward Kylah vanDonkersgoed (women) and sophomore Matt Noll (men) were tabbed as the WSC Players to Watch this season for the Wildcats.
The Wildcat women bring back two starters in vanDonkersgoed and senior guard Meg Rietz on a squad that went 11-16 overall and 8-14 in league play. WSC received 64 points in the 2025 vote.
Minnesota State-Mankato earned the top spot gaining eight first place votes and 215 points. Concordia-St. Paul and Sioux Falls followed with 202 points each with CSP garnering four first place votes and three for USF. St. Cloud State took the remaining first place vote and are picked fifth behind Southwest Minnesota State who earned 172 points.
vanDonkersgoed, the 6-1 senior from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, started in all 27 games last season for the 'Cats and averaged 11.3 points to go with 5.1 rebounds. She led the team in total rebounds with 139 and was second last season in blocks with 24. vanDonkersgoed shot 38.1 percent from the floor and 30.1 percent beyond the arc.
The WSC men also return two starters in JJ Ferrin and Noll along with Kai Smith who saw valuable minutes last season. WSC earned 101 points in the vote.
Southwest Minnesota State claimed the top spot in the poll as they earned 219 points and 11 first place votes. St. Cloud State followed up with the second most first place votes with two and 194 points. Minnesota State-Manakato (1, 189), Concordia-St. Paul (1, 176), and Augustana (1, 174) are the remaining teams to earn first place votes. Minnesota Duluth was tied fifth with Augustana with 174 points.
Noll, the 6-7 sophomore and native of Sioux City, Iowa played in all 29 games last season with 28 starts. He led the 'Cats in scoring with 13.0 points per game and collected 4.4 rebounds. He also recorded double figures in 21 games and earned All-NSIC Second Team honors.
The Wayne State women open their season at the Central Region Challenge on Nov. 14 when they take on Emporia State in St. Joseph, MO. Their first home game is set to take place Nov. 22 against Chadron State.
The WSC men open the 2025-26 campaign November 14 at the Missouri Western Classic where they will take on Emporia State in St. Joseph, MO. Their first home game is set for, Nov. 17 when the 'Cats take on Manhattan Christian.
