If you walked into the Hart Center in Worcester right now, you’d feel it. That specific, heavy-air tension of a program that knows exactly what it's supposed to be but is currently fighting like hell to get back there. Holy Cross women's basketball isn't just another mid-major team. They are the standard. Or at least, they were for a very long time. Honestly, watching them lately is a bit of a rollercoaster. One day they're stifling American University with a defensive masterclass, and the next, they're struggling to find the bottom of the net at West Point. It's a grind.
People sort of forget that this program has 13 Patriot League Tournament titles. That's not a typo. 13. Most schools would kill for two. But when you’ve had that kind of success, a 9-7 start to the 2025-26 season feels... complicated.
The Candice Green Era and the Weight of 14 Banners
Coach Candice Green took over a program that was literally coming off back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. No pressure, right? She was named the permanent head coach in February 2025 after an interim stint, and she’s basically inherited a Ferrari that’s currently navigating a few potholes.
The thing about Holy Cross women's basketball is that the history is everywhere. You see the banners for 1985, 1991, and the more recent 2023 and 2024 runs. It’s a lot to live up to. Green, a Colgate alum who knows this league inside and out, is trying to mold this roster into her own image. It’s defensive-minded. Gritty. Sometimes, it’s a bit of a struggle to watch on the offensive end—they’re averaging around 59.6 points per game—but they make you earn every single bucket.
Why the 2025-2026 Season is a Massive Turning Point
We’re currently sitting in the middle of January 2026. The Crusaders just came off a tough 61-46 loss to Army, which followed a dominant win over American. This is the definition of a "bridge" year. You’ve got veteran leaders like Meg Cahalan and Kaitlyn Flanagan trying to keep the culture intact while the younger pieces find their footing.
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- Meg Cahalan is the engine. She’s putting up roughly 15.3 points a night.
- Kaitlyn Flanagan just hit the Patriot League top 10 all-time for assists. That’s huge.
- Simone Foreman is basically a vacuum on the glass, averaging over 8 rebounds.
If you haven’t seen Flanagan play, you’re missing out. She’s one of those "coach on the floor" types. She doesn't just pass; she manipulates the defense. Her 471st career assist happened just the other day against Army, and it officially cemented her as one of the greats in Worcester history.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Crusaders
The biggest misconception? That Holy Cross is "down."
Look, they aren't the 24-win juggernaut they were two years ago, but they’re currently 2nd in the Patriot League standings with a 3-2 conference record. They’re still very much in the hunt. People see the 9-7 overall record and assume the dynasty is dead. It’s not. It’s just transitioning. They’re still a top-100 defensive team nationally in terms of points allowed.
They play a style that is purposefully slow. They want to drag you into the mud. If you like high-scoring, 90-point track meets, Holy Cross women's basketball might frustrate you. But if you like watching a team execute a zone or a man-to-man switch with surgical precision, they're beautiful to watch.
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The Roster Breakout: Who is Kendall Eddy?
If there’s one player who has stepped up in a way people didn't quite expect, it's Kendall Eddy. The junior guard has become a spark plug. In their recent 70-48 blowout of Lafayette on January 17, 2026, she led the team with 15 points. She’s the one hitting the "dagger" threes when the shot clock is winding down.
When Eddy and Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly are hitting from the outside, this team is dangerous. When they aren't? Well, then you get those 40-point games that make fans pull their hair out.
The Road to the 2026 Patriot League Tournament
The schedule doesn't get any easier. They’ve got Navy coming up at the Hart Center on January 21, and then a road trip to D.C. to face American again.
Honestly, the Patriot League is wide open this year. Army looks strong at 13-3, but Holy Cross has the "big game" experience that a lot of these other rosters lack. They know what it’s like to play in front of 14,000 people against Iowa in the NCAA Tournament. You can't teach that.
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- Defensive Identity: They have to keep holding opponents under 30% shooting, like they did against American.
- Finding a Second Option: Cahalan can't do it all. Someone like Janie Bachmann or Simone Foreman needs to consistently chip in 12-14 points.
- Health: With a relatively short rotation of key contributors, an injury to Flanagan or Cahalan would be catastrophic.
The Legacy of the "Hill"
Holy Cross isn't just a basketball team; it's a community. It's one of the few places in mid-major basketball where the women's team often outdraws the men's team. The Hart Center is intimate. It's loud. It’s built into the side of a hill, hence the nickname.
There's a reason players like Bronagh Power-Cassidy and Avery LaBarbera became legends there. They weren't just good athletes; they were the faces of the school. The 2026 squad is trying to find who that next "face" is. Cahalan has the stats, but the team is still looking for that person who can take over a game in the final two minutes when everything is on the line.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Analysts
If you're following Holy Cross women's basketball this season, don't just look at the final score. Watch the defensive rotations. This is a team that wins by making the other team miserable.
- Check the Standings: Keep a close eye on the Patriot League win-loss columns. The difference between the 2-seed and the 5-seed is going to be razor-thin this March.
- Watch the Guards: Keep an eye on Kaitlyn Flanagan’s assist-to-turnover ratio. If she’s taking care of the ball, Holy Cross wins.
- Home Court Advantage: If you can get to Worcester, do it. The atmosphere for the Navy and Boston University games is generally electric.
The "Crusader Way" isn't about blowing teams out by 40 points every night. It’s about being more disciplined than the person standing across from you. Whether they can turn this 9-7 start into another championship banner remains to be seen, but betting against this program in February and March is usually a bad idea. They know how to win when it counts.