Cal Poly Women's Basketball Readies for First 2026-27 Practice
9/20/2026 8:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly women’s basketball officially kicks off the 2026-27 season with its first practice on Monday, and the Mustangs and Head Coach Shanele Stires are excited to bring a renewed sense of energy and a roster built to compete.
The evenly split group of eight returners and eight newcomers, including five transfers (four Division I), as well as promising new assistant coach Ed Daniels.
Headlining the returning guards, Gabby Robinson battled injuries but averaged 25.5 minutes in 11 appearances last season. Jordan Billing, Katie Peiffer, Ella Skrzyniarz, and Madison Butcher should also see meaningful minutes in the guard rotation.
Leading the newcomers on the perimeter is Sumer Lee, who comes to Cal Poly after three years at DePaul, where she played 74 career games with 30 starts and represented Canada on the U16 and U17 national teams. A natural leader who controls pace and tempo, she is rehabbing but is expected to play and serve as a floor general for the Mustangs.
Alongside her in the exciting crop of transfers are first years Lena Most and Atlanta Bass-Sulpizio, Mecca Alexander, Maddy Tauro, and Ysabella Von Seipler. Alexander played 47 games with six starts at San Jose State, Tauro started 22 games at Cal State Fullerton last season and averaged 2.4 steals per contest, and Von Seipler shot 47 percent from both the field and three-point range in 17 games at San Diego last season.
Inside, Nora Perez is one of the brightest returners and should be in the starting mix after shooting 43 percent from the field in 2025-26. Dulci Vail also shot over 43 percent from three last season and will compete for minutes. Avery Knapp earned a full scholarship after two years as a walk-on and will fight for minutes as well.
Joining the Mustang frontcourt are Dessi Ulmer, who averaged 11.8 points and 7.1 rebounds at Colby Community College and was twice named All-Conference and team MVP, and freshman Bianca Slone.
The first official practice of the young season comes exactly one month before Cal Poly’s first exhibition of the preseason versus Cal State San Marcos at home on October 21. The regular-season opener is also at home, as the Mustangs host UC Merced at 5 p.m. on November 2.
