The Hana Haden era of Memphis women's basketball begins in earnest on Nov. 2, when the Tigers open the season against LeMoyne-Owen.
It comes at a crucial time for the athletic department, which needs as many proverbial hands on deck as it can get while it tries to favorably position itself for the next round of conference realignment.
But, even if that weren't in play, the program is also in dire need of a jolt of energy. Memphis won just 30 games combined over the past three seasons under former coach Alex Simmons. The Tigers have won more than 20 games just once in the last 14 seasons.
"The last couple years haven’t been necessarily to the standard of what people would want. But I don’t look at Memphis as a doormat," Haden told The Commercial
Appeal in June. "Whatever the situation is, it’s our job to figure it out. We have to figure out how to win here. That’s my job. That’s the call to action. It has to work. There’s no Plan B."
Expectations and projections are good places to start the Memphis women's basketball mailbag.
What is a fair expectation for our women's team? Should it be to compete for a conference title? — Steven Becton, via Tiger Basketball Insider text group
Two things can be true.
Expecting the Tigers to contend for an American Conference championship in the first season under a new coach who is taking over a program that went 10-21 last season may be unfair. But, given the roster Haden has put together and her own successful pedigree, Memphis should make some substantially positive strides in 2026-27.
Realistically, the American isn't exactly a world-beater conference in women's basketball. Defending champion Rice finished highest in the NET last season at No. 63. South Florida (at No. 68) was the only other team in the conference to finish in the top 100.
But, Rice returns three starters, including the American Player of the Year Victoria Flores. South Florida returns last season's preseason player of the year, Carlo Brito.
A fair expectation would be a .500 overall record and finishing in the top half of the conference standings. Is a spot in the top five (or better) out of the question? No.
I know it's early, but do you see a possible starting five? — Donnell Bowdery, via Tiger Basketball Insider text group
Never too early for a starting lineup projection.
Tierney Kelsey will be the starting point guard. The Memphis native led Indiana State in scoring last season (15.6 points per game). The keys are in her hands.
Daejah Richmond (another Memphian), Jordan Hunter and Tamya Smith started a combined 72 games for the Tigers last season. That trio also accounted for 46.6% of the team's scoring in 2025-26.
Excellent chance those are your two, three and four spots in the starting five.
Destiny Thomas, the 6-foot-4 center who spent her freshman season with the Tigers, will almost certainly round things out. In 28 starts last season for Cincinnati, she averaged 5.2 points and 5.0 rebounds.
How has the culture/atmosphere changed for the men's and women's programs? Who's going to be the surprise on both teams? — Verlinda Henning, via Tiger Basketball Insider text group
Let's start with the women: Drastically improved, by all accounts.
Haden wasted little time meticulously restructuring all facets of the program. She's got a straightforward vision and a thorough, detailed plan for executing it. And accountability is paramount. Team chemistry is something else that seems to have taken a massive jump.
Haden likes every player on her roster. But Lily Melton (a 5-10 guard who transferred from Columbia State Community College) might be the best candidate for biggest surprise.
On the men's side: The biggest thing I've noticed in terms of how things have changed atmospherically since last season is an increased unity — players and coaching staff. Everyone's on the same page, suggesting a dramatically heightened level of buy-in over last season.
As far as surprises on Penny Hardaway's roster, the best answers are probably Luke Almodovar and Cello Jackson Jr. But after Hardaway publicly acknowledged how well they were playing in summer workouts, can we even label them as "surprises" anymore? Probably not. So, let's go with this: Rihards Vavers and Jerry Deng might do more for the Tigers than people are expecting this season. Perhaps a lot more.
Are the players Hana Haden got more talented than those we have had in the past, or do you think they will just be coached better? — Matthew Cobbs, via Tiger Basketball Insider text group
Both.
Talent wasn't really a problem under Simmons. She had Madison Griggs and Alasia Smith one season. She had DeeDee Hagemann and Tilly Boler one season. She had Richmond and Smith last season. Yet it never translated into success.
Haden hasn't coached a game yet for the Tigers, but her track record strongly suggests the program upgraded in that department.
But, at the same time, you could also make the argument that Haden will have more talent across the board than Simmons ever had.
So, both.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Fair expectations for Memphis women's basketball and other burning questions
