Ivy League women’s basketball preview: Preseason poll and Media Day

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The Ivy League on Wednesday announced the results of its 2026–27 Ivy League Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll, as voted by members of the media. The upper part of the standings reflected the final results from last year, with Princeton, Columbia and Harvard taking the top three spots, respectively.

Looking to earn their eighth outright or shared regular-season title in the last nine competitive Ancient Eight seasons, the Tigers, which took home the championship in 2026, totaled 161 votes, including 15 first-place votes, from the 21-member panel.

The Lions, the outright regular-season winners in 2025 and are aiming for their fourth championship in the last five years, earned 149 votes and five first-place selections. The Crimson, which last stood atop the standings in 2008, received the other first-place vote slot and 131 points.

A decade away from its last title, Penn hopes to return the trophy to the Palestra this year, which marks the arena’s 100th anniversary. The Quakers, who missed out on Ivy Madness a year ago, grabbed the last slot in the upper division with 104 points.

The media selected Brown for fifth place with 74 points, while sixth-place Cornell (60 points), seventh-place Yale (48 points) and eighth-place Dartmouth (29 points) placed the same way they finished last year.

Two days later, the coaches and student-athletes from all eight programs assembled for the annual Media Day, which returned to the traditional format of having Ivy reporters ask questions after a one-year hiatus.

Below are takeaways from the three-hour event, hosted for the first time by Christy Thomaskutty, ESPN broadcaster, frequent Ivy League ESPN broadcaster and longtime coach at Emory:

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Q&A with Yale men’s basketball senior guard Trevor Mullin

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Trevor Mullin averaged 11.5 points, 2.7 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game in 2025-26. (Yale Athletics)

Trevor Mullin, a 6-foot-1 senior guard from Wellesley, Mass., is captain of the Yale men’s basketball team. Ivy Hoops Online sat down with him Friday for an interview:

Ivy Hoops Online: When you committed to Yale, did you ever think that you would be the basketball captain?

Trevor Mullin: It was always a goal in mind. My goal was to be the best player I could be.

IHO: How tough of an adjustment was it from high school [St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, Mass.] to college?

TM: Definitely tough. The physicality and then speed. And having to deal with Bez [Mbeng] at practice.

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Q&A with former Yale forward Isaac Celiscar

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Isaac Celiscar (Yale Athletics)

Isaac Celiscar averaged 13.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per outing in 2025-26 for Yale as a sophomore forward en route to being named Second-Team All-Ivy. The Wnter Haven, Fla. native transferred to Baylor in the offseason. Ivy Hoops Online recently caught up with the 6-foot-6 swingman.

Ivy Hoops Online: How difficult was it to leave Yale?

Isaac Celiscar: Leaving Yale was an incredibly difficult decision. I would probably rank it as the hardest decision I ever had to make in my life. I valued the people there and the connections I had made over the two years. My relationship with the coaching staff, coach [James] Jones especially, and my teammates meant a lot to me. Those are people I will share a lifetime with!

IHO: What are the differences you have noticed to date in practices at Yale and Baylor?

IC: I can make the slightest mistake [at Baylor] and get called out for it. There’s a lot of similarities.

IHO: Are there differences between coaches Jones and [Scott] Drew?

IC: Honestly, coach Jones and Drew have a lot of similarities. Coach Jones is a little more laid back in coaching style. Other than that, I see a lot of similarities.

IHO: Thoughts on playing Yale this season in Waco in November (Nov. 10)?

IC: I am excited. When I got the news that we were playing them, I immediately let my family know. When I transferred, I didn’t feel like there was bad blood between me and everyone on the team. It was more of a mutual respect between my teammates and coaches there. I’m happy I will get to see them and compete against them again. Of course, I’ll be in different colors, and of course I want to win. Those are my brothers and the love will be there for sure.

IHO: How do you think this Yale team will fare in the Ivy?

IC: I feel they are still in a good place to compete for first place.

IHO: Talk about the composition of this Yale team.

IC: I expect the core of Riley [Fox], Jordan [Brathwaite] and Trevor [Mullin] to have a big year. And the freshmen that were on the bench last year to prove themselves. meaning Courtney [Wallace], Jack [Sullivan], Alvin [Loving] and Daniel [Ogunyemi]. And guys that didn’t really get an opportunity but could play like Jeannot [Basima] when the opportunity presents itself to step up. I feel like they will be a very good team. Coach Jones will make sure they’re good. Coaches [Matt] Kingsley, [Tobe] Carberry and [Brandon] Sherrod all will follow that up. Wishing them nothing but the best!

Ivy League Tournament seeks long-term success in Pennsylvania’s “Queen City”

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With a 2026 Ivy League Tournament in Ithaca that attracted less than 1,500 and 700 fans, to the men’s and women’s finals, respectively, it wasn’t a surprise when the conference decided to move the 2027 event from the farther reaches of Hanover back to Philadelphia’s historic Palestra.

On the other hand, the Sept. 15 announcement that Ivy Madness would relocate to the PPL Center in Allentown for the 2028-2030 editions did come as a bit of a shock.

With apologies to Harvard alum Colin Jost, my first thought was “I didn’t have that on my bingo card.”

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Off the Bench: Dutch Dowdell of Harvard men’s basketball

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Ivy League hoopsters are Division I athletes on the court and exceptionally accomplished and eclectic humans off it. Ivy Hoops Online presents the latest edition of our Off the Bench series that takes fans inside the stories that you might not otherwise know from the stands or through your screen.

Basketball has taken Dutch Dowdell ’29 around the world, introduced him to inspirational leaders from every sector, and taught him unforgettable life lessons. Dowdell spoke to IHO as his junior year at Harvard was beginning:

Dutch Dowdell takes aim at the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal in April 2023. (photo courtesy of Dutch Dowdell)

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Off the Bench: Hilke Feldrappe of Columbia women’s basketball

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Ivy League hoopsters are Division I athletes on the court and exceptionally accomplished and eclectic humans off it. Ivy Hoops Online presents the latest edition of our Off the Bench series that takes fans inside the stories that you might not otherwise know from the stands or through your screen.

From Berlin to Columbia, Missouri and now at Columbia and Barnard in the Big Apple, Hilke Feldrappe ’27  considers herself very lucky to have generally found what she was looking for. As her senior year is set in motion, she’s dreaming big about basketball, architecture and sustainability — and whatever will come next.

Hilke Feldrappe plays for the German National Team at EuroBasket 2025. (photo courtesy of Hilke Feldrappe)

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Q&A with Yale women’s basketball coach Dalila Eshe

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Dalila Eshe (Yale Athletics)

Ivy Hoops Online recently caught up with fifth-year Yale women’s basketball coach Dalila Eshe on a wide range of topics:

Ivy Hoops Online: Can you give us a preview of your out-of-conference scheduling and some insight into your scheduling philosophy?

Dalila Eshe: My philosophy around nonconference scheduling has evolved over the last few years. We always want to challenge our team, but we also have to balance several important factors. We try to give our players an opportunity to play close to home at some point during their four years, and we’re mindful of the academic calendar – particularly when they have to manage midterms or other demanding course work. We always prioritize regional games during the week whenever possible to minimize missed class time and travel demands. Ultimately, the goal is to build a balanced schedule that challenges our players appropriately, prepares us for Ivy League play and supports their overall experience as student-athletes.

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Off the Bench: N’famara Dabo of Brown men’s basketball

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Ivy League hoopsters are Division I athletes on the court and exceptionally accomplished and eclectic humans off it. Ivy Hoops Online presents the latest edition of our Off the Bench series that takes fans inside the stories that you might not otherwise know from the stands or through your screen.

N’famara Dabo ’27 loves asking himself big questions. His curiosity extends from the classroom to his reading list, and to finding his place far from home. He spoke to us on the verge of a senior year he intends to fill with learning, winning and the best of the Providence dining scene.

N’famara Dabo leading the way with friends in Hawaii in the summer of 2023. (photo courtesy of N’famara Dabo)

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Off the Bench: Clarke Jackson of Cornell women’s basketball

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Ivy League hoopsters are Division I athletes on the court and exceptionally accomplished and eclectic humans off it. Ivy Hoops Online presents the latest edition of our Off the Bench series that takes fans inside the stories that you might not otherwise know from the stands or through your screen.
Clarke Jackson ’27 is next up in the series. Basketball and an enterprising mind have taken Jackson from Columbus, Ohio to Cornell. Her creative journey in the wider world of sports and marketing is only just beginning.
Clarke Jackson is pictured walking in Chicago in July 2026. (photo courtesy of Clarke Jackson)

This summer, Clarke Jackson is getting a glimpse at her future.

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