RIO GRANDE VALLEY – Less than a week from tip-off, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) women's basketball team is coming off the best season in program history and starts this one with higher expectations than it has ever had.
The Vaqueros were picked to finish third in the Southland Conference (SLC) preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches. It's a notable jump for a program that finished fourth last year while setting a school record with 16 conference wins and returning to the postseason for the first time in seven years. Only Lamar (116 points) and Stephen F. Austin (113) were picked ahead of UTRGV, which received 98 points and a first-place vote. UIW and defending regular-season champion McNeese were picked behind the Vaqueros.
Head coach Lane Lord appreciates the respect, but he isn't reading too much into it.
"Rankings really don't matter, but it's nice for the coaches in the league to give you a little bit of respect after what we did last year," Lord said. "We have seven returners, and obviously we lost some big pieces too. But the program took a big step forward last year, and I think that's where we got some votes. It all starts on Monday, and you can throw the record and the rankings out the window because every team is a new team and we're really excited about this team."
The Vaqueros open the 2026-27 season at home on Monday against Arlington Baptist at 5 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. The non-Division I opponent will arrive with something to prove, and Lord expects UTRGV to be ready for it.
"You've got to play at a higher level at all times. We've always played such challenging games, and Arlington Baptist is going to come in here and it's their Super Bowl, it's their game of the year," Lord said. "We'll get their best shot. It'll be fun for us to play in front of fans, especially our own, and kick the season off right."
The Fieldhouse should be busier than ever. The UTRGV Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced that it has surpassed 700 basketball season tickets sold for the 2026-27 seasons, a program record. The department sold 162 new season tickets between the first two home football games and the Helmets to Hoops promotion. Lord and men's basketball head coach Brandon Chambers had their teams meet fans at those football games, handing out schedule cards.
"I always go back to football and how much it's done for our program. The Helmets and Hoops promotion we did was really neat and fun. Coach Chambers and I got to try out our acting skills in those commercials, and we weren't very good, but it was fun," Lord said. "The athletic department is at an all-time high as far as fan and community support. We're blessed to be a part of it."
Lord has a simple message for what those fans will see: effort. "I think they'll see how hard we play. We play with a lot of passion and a lot of pride, and we want to represent the Valley, our people and our culture," he said.
The roster blends proven returners with veteran newcomers. Senior guard Erin Maguire, a native of Ireland who started more than 30 games last season, anchors the group along with senior guard Madison Huhn and junior Gianna Angiolet. Sophomore forwards Chazlyn Dettor, who also started more than 30 games last year, and Elise Horne give the Vaqueros a young but experienced frontcourt. Lord has said Maguire had the biggest one-summer jump in confidence he has seen in his time at UTRGV.
The newcomers bring experience at the Division I level. In-conference transfers Jesslynn Jalomo (Nicholls) and Kamryn McLaurin (Houston Christian) already know what the SLC demands. Fifth-year Janette Aarnio, from Finland, and freshman forward Lina Fimbo, from Ris-Orangis, France, join Maguire in giving the roster an international flavor. Lord believes it could also be the oldest team in the league.
The Vaqueros' priority is health. Lord said a few players are dealing with minor injuries, and he wants everyone back to full strength before conference play begins. UTRGV plays four SLC games before Christmas, starting with a Dec. 3-5 trip to Nicholls and LSU New Orleans.
"Some players who may not have started are going to have a chance to start and get that experience until we get a couple of starters back," Lord said. "There's always a silver lining. We really need these new players to come in and get the experience they need, and that really helps our depth in the long run."
The schedule will test the group early. Following the home opener, UTRGV has road games at South Dakota and Kansas State, hosts postseason teams Abilene Christian and North Dakota State, and plays at Rice, Sam Houston, Arizona State and Texas, which reached the Final Four last season. Lord has called it the toughest schedule of his nine years in the Valley, with the goal of preparing the team for another finish near the top of the conference.
First, there's Monday. The Vaqueros are ready to tip-off, and Lord is asking the community to be there.
"We need the community," Lord said. "Bring your family out. It's a great opportunity to watch our men's and women's teams. It's a chance to see what we've got going into this season and get excited about us."
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