Champions: Lakers basketball finishes historic season with back-to-back titles
STORY BY THOMAS CHAVEZ
PHOTOS BY EMILY RIDDLE
It was a familiar sight at Pittsburgh’s UMPC Cooper Fieldhouse. The confetti rained on players celebrating on the court, the trophy raised above their heads and the Lakers were champions again.
The GVSU women’s basketball team won their second consecutive Division II National Championship in a 72-49 win over Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The victory marked the third national championship title in program history.
At the beginning of the Lakers’ season, Head Coach Mike Williams emphasized that it was a new year and a new team from the 2025 championship squad. Key contributors from the previous year graduated and departed the team, leading the 2025-26 Lakers to lean on returning veterans and younger players.
Grand Valley State women’s basketball alumni Kathryn Schmidt (left) and Ellie Droste (center) react during the NCAA Division II National Championship game at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh on March 28, 2026.
Grand Valley State women’s basketball alumni Kathryn Schmidt (left) and Ellie Droste (center) react during the NCAA Division II National Championship game at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh on March 28, 2026.
Lexi Plitzuweit works through a screen while guarding a Northwood player during the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship on March 16 in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.
Lexi Plitzuweit works through a screen while guarding a Northwood player during the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship on March 16 in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.
Grand Valley State women’s basketball alumni Kathryn Schmidt (left) and Ellie Droste (center) react during the NCAA Division II National Championship game at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh on March 28, 2026.
Grand Valley State women’s basketball alumni Kathryn Schmidt (left) and Ellie Droste (center) react during the NCAA Division II National Championship game at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh on March 28, 2026.
Lexi Plitzuweit works through a screen while guarding a Northwood player during the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship on March 16 in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.
Lexi Plitzuweit works through a screen while guarding a Northwood player during the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship on March 16 in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.
Grand Valley finished the season with a 36-1 record, including a 19-1 conference record and a 15-game win streak through the national championship game.
The Lakers swept through the GLIAC Tournament, finishing with an 83-62 win over rivals Ferris State in the GLIAC title game.
In the Midwest Regional, Grand Valley defeated Wayne State, the only team they lost to in the regular season, in the semi-final before defeating Northwood University in the regional final to move on to the Elite Eight in Pittsburgh.
The top-seeded Lakers defeated Carson-Newman University in the Elite Eight in dominant form, winning 96-48. In the Final Four, the team’s defense stifled the University of Alabama in Huntsville 61-39.
In the national championship, the Lakers held the lead from wire-to-wire. Senior Paige VanStee led the team in scoring with 25 points, followed by senior Nicole Kamin and sophomore MacKenzie Bisballe with 18 points each.
A national championship trophy wasn’t the only hardware the Lakers brought home this season. Williams won his second straight Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award.
VanStee earned WBCA First-Team All-American honors. VanStee was named the Midwest Regional’s Most Outstanding Player.
Bisballe was named a Division II Conference Commissioners Association Third-Team All-American as well as First-Team All-Midwest Region.
Kamin, VanStee and Bisballe were all named First-Team All-GLIAC, while Kamin won the NCAA Division II Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award.
In their back-to-back championship seasons, the Lakers combined for a 74-3 record.
Grand Valley is the first Division II program to win back-to-back championships since Lubbock Christian University accomplished the feat in 2021. All three of the Lakers’ national titles have come in the 21st century: 2006, 2025 and 2026.
President Philomena Mantella embraces first-year Ava Scanlon on the court, celebrating their win. (Photo by Macayla Cramer)
President Philomena Mantella embraces first-year Ava Scanlon on the court, celebrating their win. (Photo by Macayla Cramer)
Confetti surrounds the blue boots of Grand Valley State University President Philomena V. Mantella following the NCAA Division II National Championship game at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse on March 28, 2026.
Confetti surrounds the blue boots of Grand Valley State University President Philomena V. Mantella following the NCAA Division II National Championship game at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse on March 28, 2026.
President Philomena Mantella embraces first-year Ava Scanlon on the court, celebrating their win. (Photo by Macayla Cramer)
President Philomena Mantella embraces first-year Ava Scanlon on the court, celebrating their win. (Photo by Macayla Cramer)
Confetti surrounds the blue boots of Grand Valley State University President Philomena V. Mantella following the NCAA Division II National Championship game at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse on March 28, 2026.
Confetti surrounds the blue boots of Grand Valley State University President Philomena V. Mantella following the NCAA Division II National Championship game at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse on March 28, 2026.
The GVSU women’s basketball team celebrates following the national championship game on March 28 at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
The GVSU women’s basketball team celebrates following the national championship game on March 28 at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
