Photo Credit: USF Athletics
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The South Florida Bulls enter the 2026-27 season with a new coach and plenty of new faces. Kristy Curry takes over as the seventh head coach in program history. She replaces Jose Fernandez after his long run leading the Bulls. Curry brings plenty of experience to Tampa. She has built a career around developing competitive college basketball programs. Now, she faces an important challenge at USF. Curry must quickly establish her system with a roster full of fresh talent. The Bulls finished 20-12 overall last season. They also went 13-5 in American Conference play. However, the 2026-27 team will look much different.
A New Coach Takes Charge
Curry arrives at USF with a clear opportunity to build her own identity. She has already assembled a staff featuring Kelly Curry, Tennille Adams, and Bri Hutchen. Sydney-Anne Cottrell and Parker Lovett also join the staff. The Bulls will likely emphasize toughness, discipline, and strong team defense. Those traits should matter throughout a challenging schedule. Curry also inherits a program with plenty of tradition. USF owns 19 postseason tournament appearances and 10 NCAA Tournament berths. The program has also produced 13 seasons with at least 20 victories. That history creates expectations for the new coaching staff.
Veteran Guards Lead the Roster
USF brings several experienced players into the new season. Gabby Kenanerly returns as a senior guard. She previously played at Mount St. Mary’s and Howard. Hannah Kohn also enters her senior season. The Oviedo native previously played at Clemson. Stefanie Ingram provides another experienced option in the backcourt. She enters her fifth college season after playing at Florida Atlantic. Amourie Porter gives the Bulls another senior guard. She previously played at Winthrop. Kate Novik also brings experience after transferring from DePaul. She stands six feet tall and can add size to the perimeter. That veteran presence could prove valuable during Curry’s first season.
Size Gives USF Options
The Bulls also have several players who can help inside. Lana Vukcevic stands 6-foot-5 and returns as a junior center. She gives USF a true interior presence. Fatou Diakite returns as a 6-foot-3 senior forward. She previously played at Charlotte. Mallory Collier also enters her senior season. The 6-foot-3 forward previously played at NC State. Kendall Puryear provides another 6-foot-3 option. She transferred to USF after playing at Purdue. Lisandra Vetesina adds another intriguing frontcourt piece. The freshman stands 6-foot-2 and comes from Estonia. Together, those players give Curry several lineup combinations.
Young Players Could Make an Impact
Curry also has several younger players who could earn important minutes. Serenity Hardy enters her freshman season after playing at Winter Haven High School. The Lakeland native stands 5-foot-9. Lee Teichman enters her sophomore season after joining USF from Israel. Savannah Curry also enters her junior season. She previously played at Temple and stands six feet tall. The roster gives Curry a mix of experience and youth. That balance could become one of the team’s biggest strengths.
A Tough Start Awaits
USF opens the regular season November 2 against Furman. The Bulls will host Furman at the Yuengling Center in Curry’s first official game. Then, USF immediately faces a strong early test. The Bulls travel to Belmont for the Multi-Conference Opening Weekend Showcase. They face Belmont on November 6 and Rhode Island on November 8. USF also travels to Gainesville for a November 12 matchup against Florida. That game should provide another major early measuring stick. The Bulls will also host FIU, Binghamton, UAPB, Morgan State, and Longwood. The schedule also includes the WBCA Showcase in Orlando. USF will then travel to the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas. The Bulls will finish the non-conference slate at the Cherokee Invitational.
American Conference Play
Conference play begins December 30. USF will face a familiar group of opponents during the American Conference schedule. The Bulls host Memphis, Tulane, and UAB. They will travel to North Texas, Charlotte, and Wichita State. USF also plays home-and-away series against Rice, UTSA, Tulsa, Temple, East Carolina, and Florida Atlantic. That schedule provides plenty of opportunities for Curry’s team. The Bulls will need consistency once conference play begins. They also need their veterans to establish leadership early.
What Should Fans Watch?
The biggest storyline involves how quickly Curry builds chemistry. USF has several experienced players, but the coaching staff must find the right combinations. The backcourt features multiple experienced guards. Meanwhile, the frontcourt offers several players with significant size. That combination gives Curry plenty of options. The Bulls also face an important challenge with their early schedule. Belmont, Rhode Island, Florida, and several tournament games provide difficult tests. Those contests could reveal where USF stands before conference play. The 2026-27 season represents the beginning of a new chapter.
Curry inherits a program with a strong postseason tradition. She also has a roster capable of creating several different lineups. Now, the Bulls must turn those pieces into a cohesive team. USF begins that process November 2 against Furman. From there, the Bulls will face a demanding non-conference schedule. Then, American Conference play arrives December 30. For USF women’s basketball, the 2026-27 season should bring plenty of intrigue. The new era officially begins when Curry leads the Bulls onto the court.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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