West Liberty, W. Va. — Entering his ninth season at the helm, veteran head coach Kyle Cooper has his sights set on turning experience and resilience into results as the West Liberty University women's basketball team tips off the 2025–26 campaign.
Armed with a seasoned backcourt, an influx of size in the paint, and a roster deeper than in recent years, the Hilltoppers look ready to climb the Mountain East Conference standings after finishing in the middle of the pack a season ago.
"This group has the right mix of maturity and hunger," Cooper said. "We've had our share of adversity the last couple of years — injuries, tough stretches, close losses — but this team has stuck together. The buy-in, the leadership, and the way they've approached the offseason have been as good as I've seen."
Cooper, who enters the season with 110 career victories, has built a reputation for balancing offensive creativity with player development. His programs have produced 16 All-MEC selections, eight 1,000-point scorers, and multiple All-Americans, including Marissa Brown and Audrey Tingle, who set NCAA Division II triple-double records during her Hilltopper career.
Under his leadership, West Liberty has also established itself as one of the nation's most academically successful teams — finishing No. 19 nationally in the WBCA Academic Top 25 last season, marking the seventh time the program has appeared in the rankings.
"This program has always been about developing the whole student-athlete," Cooper said. "We take a lot of pride in competing at a high level on the floor and representing West Liberty the right way in the classroom and community."
The Hilltoppers return First-Team All-MEC selection Bailee Smith, one of the conference's most dynamic guards. The former MEC Freshman of the Year ranked second in the league in three-point field goals made (67) and fifth in scoring (15.2 ppg).
Smith enters the season 12th on West Liberty's all-time scoring list with 1,245 career points and will again serve as the focal point of the Hilltoppers' high-tempo offense.
"Bailee is the tone-setter," Cooper said. "She's a fierce competitor who can score in bunches, but what's impressed me most is her jump in leadership and we're expecting another all conference year."
West Liberty once again expects to lean on its trademark shooting ability. The Hilltoppers led the MEC last season in three-point percentage (34%) and averaged 9.2 made threes per game, a staple of Cooper's offensive philosophy.
"When we're sharing the ball and spacing the floor, we're at our best," Cooper added. "We've got multiple players who can knock down shots and stretch defenses, and that opens up so much of what we do."
Joining Smith in the backcourt is senior Anna Lucarelli, who emerged as one of the MEC's most complete players a year ago, averaging 9.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting over 41% from three. "Anna's the glue," Cooper said. "She's a connector — she rebounds, she defends, she shoots it efficiently, and she leads with confidence and a swagger. Every successful team needs that type of player."
Behind Smith and Lucarelli, the Hilltoppers' rotation boasts both experience and exciting young talent. Olivia Baker, a redshirt sophomore, returns after a breakout year in which she drained 51 three-pointers and earned CSC Academic All-District honors.
Versatile guards Halley Smith and Katie Lucarelli bring defensive toughness and energy and understand how to bring value in the system.
At the heart of West Liberty's frontcourt is 6 '3 " redshirt freshman Reagan Vinskovich, whose return to full strength could be one of the most impactful storylines of the season. A former Ohio Ms. Basketball finalist and 2,000-point high school scorer, Vinskovich combines rare size with soft hands and a versatile scoring touch. After battling injuries over the past two seasons, she enters this year healthy, motivated, and poised to make her long-awaited impact in the paint. Alongside her, 6'3" senior Hope Bowman brings experience, strength, and maturity.
"For the first time in a few years, we have real depth in our post room," Cooper said. "Reagan's versatility gives us different looks we can throw at people. She's worked incredibly hard to get back to this point — and she's going to be a big part of what we do."
Cooper also pointed to the team's collective growth on the defensive end as a key area of progress. "We've talked a lot about being tougher and more consistent defensively," he said. "We've been one of the better shooting teams in the league, but if we can pair that with rebounding and stops, we'll give ourselves a chance every night."
West Liberty's roster depth takes another step forward this season thanks to a talented seven-player recruiting class that blends proven experience with promising youth. Cooper added, "really proud of the roster we built around our returning core, it gives us multiple players that bring their own individual flavor to our recipe for success." The group includes a pair of college transfers — Abbie Davidson from Youngstown State and Ana-Isabel Andersson from Western Wyoming — along with several decorated high school standouts from the region.
Davidson, a scoring guard from Salem, Ohio, brings toughness and offensive versatility, while Andersson, a London native with international experience, adds a serve-first mindset and poise to the backcourt. The freshman class is headlined by Kaleigh Norris (Tusky Valley HS), an athletic wing; Dria Parker and Ella Giles, both from state powerhouse Spring Valley High School, who bring shooting, length, and defensive energy; Jameka Brungard (Springfield Local HS), a physical All-State forward with a high ceiling; and Jillian Huffman, a 2024 West Virginia state champion from Wheeling Park who joins the Hilltopper program after a year away from the game.
Cooper said the group has already raised the level of competition in practice and strengthened the team's chemistry. "Our new players have blended in seamlessly," Cooper said. "They've brought energy and competitiveness from day one. That's what you want — young players who embrace the standard instead of waiting for their turn. This group fits who we are — they work, they communicate, and they compete."
In the 2025–26 MEC Preseason Coaches Poll, West Liberty was selected eighth, tying with Wheeling. Fairmont State earned the top spot, followed by Glenville State and Charleston. But for Cooper and his team, preseason rankings are little more than background noise.
"Preseason polls are just that — preseason," Cooper said. "What matters is how we play and grow together from now until March. We know we belong in the mix, and that's where our focus is."
West Liberty opens its season at home inside the ASRC, with nonconference matchups designed to test the Hilltoppers early before diving into MEC play. The schedule includes several early challenges against NCAA Tournament-caliber opponents — an opportunity Cooper welcomes.
"You don't get better playing it safe," he said. "We've intentionally built a schedule that challenges us right away. It's about preparing for the grind of conference play and putting ourselves in position for March."
"This group has something to prove," Cooper said. "We've got talent, we've got experience, and we've got the chemistry to make a real run. If we stay healthy and continue to grow together, we can be one of those teams nobody wants to see come tournament time."
