Hope International begins the 2026-27 GSAC women's basketball season as the preseason favorite after capturing both the regular season and tournament championships last year.

The Royals posted a 15-1 record in conference play, knocking off Benedictine Mesa and Arizona Christian on their own home floor in the tournament. HIU held on for a 68-66 victory over the Firestorm in the finals.

HIU finished 24-5 overall, the 24 wins tying for second-most in program history. The Royals earned an automatic bid to the NAIA Tournament for the program's fourth overall appearance in the postseason.

Three starters return from that championship squad, including Amira Austin, the 2026 GSAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and an All-GSAC selection, as well as All-GSAC guard Nicole Chuang. Austin averaged 13.7 points and 10.4 rebounds, notching 13 double-doubles, while Chuang pumped in 13.6 points with 74 three-pointers. 

In addition, junior point guard Andrea Javier started all 27 games, averaging 7.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. She dished out 104 assists last season and made the game-winning jumper against ACU that sent the Royals to the NAIA Tournament.

The Royals return a fourth starter in Faith Brinkman, who played in only three games in 2025-26 before suffering a season-ending injury.

HIU enters the season under the guidance of fifth-year head coach Jessica Case, who owns a 76-37 career record.

2026-27 GSAC PRESEASON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES' POLL