Drexel University Athletics
McGurk Earns Preseason All-CAA First Team Honors; Dragons Picked Third in League Poll
10/15/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RICHMOND, Va. – Laine McGurk of Drexel women's basketball has been selected to the Preseason All-CAA First Team, the conference announced during its 2026 Basketball Media Day. The Dragons were also chosen to finish third in the CAA Preseason Poll ahead of the 2026-27 season.
McGurk earned preseason recognition following a standout junior campaign in which she averaged 12.8 points per game while starting all 32 contests for the Dragons. The West Chester native posted a career-high 33 points at Pitt, shooting 13-for-19 from the field, and finished the season with career highs in steals (33) and rebounds (125). McGurk also delivered one of the season's biggest moments, knocking down a game-tying three-pointer to force overtime against Monmouth. Following the season, she was named to the All-CAA Second Team, earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors, was selected to the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll with High Honors, and garnered All-Big 5 Second Team recognition.
The Dragons were selected third in the CAA Preseason Poll with 109 points. Monmouth, which received 12 first-place votes, was tabbed as the preseason favorite with 144 points, while Elon earned the No. 2 spot with 116 points. William & Mary received the remaining first-place vote and was picked fourth with 108 points.
Monmouth's Gigi Gamble was selected as the CAA Preseason Player of the Year and was joined on the Preseason All-CAA First Team by teammate Divine Dibula, Cassidy Geddes of William & Mary, Paris Locke of North Carolina A&T, and McGurk.
2026-27 CAA Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
| Team (1st Place Votes) | Points |
| Monmouth (12) | 144 |
| Elon | 116 |
| Drexel | 109 |
| William & Mary (1) | 108 |
| Towson | 99 |
| North Carolina A&T | 89 |
| Stony Brook | 88 |
| Charleston | 71 |
| Hofstra | 56 |
| Hampton | 51 |
| Northeastern | 35 |
| Campbell | 30 |
| UNCW | 18 |
Preseason Player of the Year- Gigi Gamble, Monmouth
Preseason All-CAA First Team
| Player | Team | Class | Pos. | Hometown |
| Divine Dibula | Monmouth | 5th | F | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Gigi Gamble | Monmouth | Sr. | G | Somerset, NJ |
| Cassidy Geddes | William & Mary | Sr. | G | Hickory, N.C. |
| Paris Locke | NC A&T | Sr. | F | Baltimore, Md. |
| Laine McGurk | Drexel | Sr. | G | West Chester, Pa. |
Preseason All-CAA Second Team
| Player | Team | Class | Pos. | Hometown |
| Jayda Angel | Elon | R-So. | G | Fayetteville, N.C. |
| Tyja Beans | Charleston | Sr. | G | Daytona Beach, Fla. |
| LaNae' Corbett | Elon | Jr. | F | Upper Marlboro, Md. |
| Jasmine Felton | Campbell | Jr. | G | Elizabeth City, N.C. |
| Kayla Lezama | Hampton | R-Sr. | G | Boston, Mass. |
CAA Preseason Honorable Mentions: Camryn Collins, G, Northeastern; Monet Dance, G, William & Mary; Caitlin Frost, F, Stony Brook; Abby Jegede, G, Charleston; Kiarra Mcelrath, G, Hampton; Ava Renninger, G, Towson; Justice Tramble, F, Northeastern
