Akron women's basketball confident it can take leap with influx of talent

Bud Wentz is not shy about expressing confidence in the potential of the 2026-27 Akron women's basketball team."I will go on the record saying this: This is the best assemblance of talent since [what we had] in 2013-14," Wentz, the founder of the Fear the Roo Collective, told a crowd of Zips supporters on Friday, Oct. 30, during Akron's tipoff reception at House Three Thirty. "We have depth. We have size. We have a different attitude."Akron will begin its season against South Alabama at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at Rhodes Arena.More Akron Zips sports: UA basketball's Evan Mahaffey reflects on fight for NCAA eligibilityWhat was the Akron women's basketball team's record last season?Wentz's statement about Akron's talent is a bold one because the 2013-14 Zips led by UA legend Rachel Tecca-Fleming won the Mid-American Conference Tournament title and earned the program's only trip to the NCAA Tournament. Last season, Akron went 7-24, including 4-14 in the MAC. The Zips finished 11th among 12 teams in the 2026-27 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll.However, UA's roster has been overhauled, which is typical in the transfer portal era. Of the 15 Zips players, six returned from last season's team, seven transferred to UA in the offseason and two are freshmen."It's blended really well together so far," Akron coach Ryan Gensler told the Beacon Journal. "I think we went after players that fit the size and versatility that we needed and a toughness with a winning mentality."Who are the top Akron Zips women's basketball players?Guard Shaena Brew is back with the Zips after earning a spot on the All-MAC Freshman Team last season. She averaged 11.2 points on 45.2% shooting from the field (31.2% on 3-pointers), 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 27.9 minutes."She'll be the heart of that team," Wentz said of Brew.Guard/forward Monique Mitchell, a returnee, forward Macey Fegan, a transfer from Cleveland State, and guard Tyla Heard, a transfer from Oklahoma State, are among Akron's other top players. Guards Kailee Bransford, Kam'Ren Rhodes and Teniesha Clarke are back with UA and expected to contribute after injuries interfered last season.Gensler said Jessie Joaquim, a 6-foot-2 transfer from New Mexico, is "the exact center that we want to have."More Akron basketball: MAC men's and women's basketball schedules announced for ZipsAkron's goal is to qualify for the MAC Tournament for the first time during the Gensler coaching era. He is entering his fourth season at the helm of the Zips."We've got a chip on our shoulder about what we want to accomplish and get to," Gensler said. "But we've got to be a really good defensive team, we've got to be a really good defensive rebounding team and we've got to be really smart offensive basketball team."The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be emailed at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron women's basketball confident it can take leap with influx of talent