Plenty of uncertainty surrounds Penn State women’s basketball this season, but there’s also reason to be excited.

Former Penn State star Tanisha Wright returns to Happy Valley for her first season as head coach, taking over a program that is trying to find its footing in a loaded Big Ten.

With a completely rebuilt roster that includes only one returning player, the Lady Lions will have to learn to play together and adjust to the new coaching staff.

With Wright’s first season quickly approaching, our staff shared their predictions for the Lady Lions and what they hope to see from the program under its new coach.

Collin Ward: 18-12 (7-11 Big Ten)

It’s time for the Lady Lions to return to their past heights as a dominant women’s basketball program.

Former player and now head coach Wright is the perfect fit. I think Penn State flips its record from last season despite a tough non-conference schedule.

Zach Paulhamus: 13-17 (6-12 Big Ten)

I’m excited to see what Wright brings to Penn State, but I expect some growing pains with a new coach and a completely rebuilt roster.

I can see the Lady Lions surprising a few teams, but building chemistry takes time, and the Big Ten schedule won’t make that any easier.

Devyn Quigley is lights out from beyond the arc, and I’m excited to see what former four-star recruit Kamrah Banks can do after averaging 20.4 points as a senior in high school.

Karlee Feger: 17-15 (7-11 Big Ten)

I think it will be a learning season for the Lady Lions, but Wright has been building a chemistry-focused squad. Quigley is a sharpshooter who I think will lead the team offensively, and I expect freshmen Ashlee Brown and Banks to be involved from the start.

I see Petra Božan as a defensive leader who can run the pick-and-roll effectively with her guards. I think it’ll be a successful introduction to the Wright Era, and her players will only grow as the season progresses.

Oscar Orellana: 16-14 (10-8 Big Ten)

It’s a new era for the Lady Lions under Wright.

Wright is probably the best hire Pat Kraft has ever made. She has deep roots in Happy Valley as a former All-Big Ten player and knows what it takes to succeed, even if she’s coming from the WNBA and college sports are an ever-changing landscape.

Wright also built a roster of experienced players with multiple power conference seasons under their belts. The team is deep, but it all depends on the chemistry they can build through nonconference play before hitting the Big Ten gauntlet.

I think an above-.500 finish for Penn State would be a massive success in Wright’s first year, especially after the dumpster fire that was former head coach Carolyn Kieger’s tenure.

Jake Speicher: 14-14 (8-10 Big Ten)

It’s hard to say where the Lady Lions will end up this season, with this, of course, being an entirely new team with a brand-new coach. However, I say that in a positive way, especially considering who was brought in.

I think bringing in a new head coach in Wright, with her hard-nosed defensive style, is exactly what Penn State needs, especially during conference play.

As a Penn State alum, Wright also understands the winning expectation every Penn State team has. I don’t think Penn State will instantly become a Big Ten contender, given how immensely talented the conference is, but expect the Lady Lions to jump from bottom of the barrel to a middle-of-the-pack team that can give any top team trouble on their best nights.

Michael Zeno: 13-18 (4-16 Big Ten)

There are two types of teams with a new coach and new rosters. You either come out of nowhere and take a leap that nobody ever expected, or you struggle initially and learn to be patient. 

This will not be the year to properly evaluate Wright. She lost almost the entire roster to graduation or the transfer portal and had to patch it up with Power Four role players and freshmen, which usually doesn’t go well. I’m also a bit concerned about the lack of perimeter shooting. 

Maybe they’ll surprise me, but it’s a rebuilding year for the Lady Lions. 

Cadyn Gill: 14-15

I’m conflicted as to how the Lady Lions will perform in 2026. 

On one hand, I believe Wright will provide a much-needed boost in X’s-and-O’s coaching, given her extensive WNBA experience. 

On the other hand, losing a combined 40 points per game from Kiyomi McMiller and Gracie Merkle will undoubtedly hurt Penn State. 

But even with those two offensive talents, the Lady Lions won just four Big Ten games last season. 

So, I’m not gonna pretend to be a genius and act like I know exactly how this team will finish. Instead, I’m just gonna let Wright cook, and see what follows. 

Holden Mostofsky: 12-17 (5-13 Big Ten)

With Wright, I think the new Lady Lions can improve on last season. However, it is a very new team, and I don’t know what to expect just yet.

The Big Ten is still a strong conference, and the Lady Lions face eight pre-season top-25 teams. Building an elite program will take time, but I believe the team can improve.

Christopher Green: 21-10 (9-9 Big Ten)

I’m excited to see how the Lady Lions do this year under Wright in her first year at the helm. She brings strong coaching experience from the WNBA, where she worked with the Chicago Sky and standout players like Kia Nurse, Angel Reese, Hailey van Lith, and Rebecca Allen.

Although the team is all new, many players have experience in Power Four conferences and at schools such as Wisconsin, Nebraska, NC State, and Vanderbilt.

Realistically, I could see the Lady Lions going 16-14 overall and 9-9 in the Big Ten. I think that there will be some heartbreaking losses, and that is always to be expected in a coach’s first year.

I think Penn State will finish No. 16 in the Big Ten, ahead of Rutgers and Northwestern again. I could see Penn State coming out hot, finishing 20-10, and earning their way into the AP Top 25 at some point this season. The last time this happened was in 2023 when they started 7-1 and earned the No. 25 spot.