Under the guidance of head coach Landon Steele, the Dodge City women's basketball program has become a top-tier program not only in the KJCCC but nationally. Last season was no different as the program went to their fourth straight NJCAA Division I National Tournament while also achieving #1 national ranking for the first time ever in program history. 
 
Coming off a 27-6 season finishing second in the KJCCC and competing at the NJCAA DI National Tournament, the Conqs will look to have another strong season, as they have won 27+ games for four straight years. 
 
The Conqs will look to replace six four-year transfers, five of whom went to the NCAA Division I level, marking the second straight year with five or more DI transfers. Scoring 74.4 points per game last season while holding opponents to just 57.8 points, the Conqs will need to replace their top three scorers. 
 
Five players return for the Conqs from last year's national tournament team, including honorable mention All-KJCCC honoree Jade Célérier, who will once again look to lead the Conqs in the backcourt. Célérier last season averaged seven points per game on 46.5% shooting adding 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. Also, back in the backcourt at guard are Jordi Perry and Mailey Cunningham. Perry had a strong impact as a freshman last season with her defense and strong basketball IQ as she averaged 3.1 points per game on 43.8% shooting adding 4.5 rebounds and two assists per game. Cunningham is another lengthy shooter for the Conqs back after averaging 5.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. 
 
The top returning scorer for the Conqs is Saje Evans who played more inside as a freshman but looks to make an impact in the backcourt at guard, while also giving the Conqs another option inside as well. Evans averaged 8.8 points per game in her first season with the Conqs adding 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists. Charlie Melksham, also returns for the Conqs after seeing quite a bit of action last season, averaging 4.6 points on 45.5% shooting with 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game as she looks to help lead the charge inside for the Conqs at forward. 
 
Nine new faces round out the Conqs roster as the incoming freshman class look to make an impact in many ways. At guard, Jayla Cassidy, Chanel Enriquez-Paea, Victoire Mercier, and Layla Kisner all look to factor into the equation in the backcourt providing outside shooting and ball handling; Peyton Hall also joins the Conqs at guard but will redshirt as she continues to recover from injury. The Conqs will have more frontcourt depth than they have in years, as the additions of Hannah Toli, Nahomy Nazareno, Shaliyah Forbes, and Jennifer Mailei give them a strong group inside the paint that will look to control the paint throughout the season. 
 
The Conqs will open the 2026-27 season on the road at the Western Nebraska CC Classic on October 30^thand 31^st, taking on Laramie County and Western Nebraska in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The Conqs will compete in two other non-conference classics, heading to Odessa, Texas, for the Odessa Classic on November 6^th and 7^th, then competing in Great Bend, Kansas, at the Barton CC Classic on November 12^thand 13^th. At the Odessa Classic, the Conqs will play Odessa and Midland, while they will take on Redlands and Murray State at the Barton CC Classic. Jayhawk Conference play opens November 18^th when the Conqs host Pratt. 
 
You can get your first look at the Conqs during CONQ Madness, which is set for Monday, October 26^th at 7:00 pm at the Student Activity Center on campus.