Mark Kellogg Looks to Keep WVU WBB Momentum Going Despite Overhaul

WVU women’s basketball comes into 2026-27 on the heels of, arguably, its best season in program history. After hosting an NCAA Regional and winning the Big 12 championship, head coach Mark Kellogg looks to continue to take steps forward with the program.

However, there’s  one major hurdle to make that happen, as this offseason saw the most roster turnover since Kellogg took over, with just two players from last year’s team returning.

“I think we have talent. I think there’s some really, really good pieces in the room when we’re together. Now, how it fits is what we’re still trying to work out, which would be this time for any team, even if you have some returners, but more so for us is just how does it come together,” Kellogg said in a press conference on Monday. “Really, just trying to get a mindset and instill the mindset and how we like to play, what we do, the pace in which we play, those types of things.:

Kellogg called the team a “work in progress” and said it will take time to make the pieces fit. However, he anticipates to still have success on the court.

“I think we’re adapting every day. It’s not there yet by any stretch. We’ll be a work in progress for a little while. We’re not going to be a well-oiled machine here early. So we’ll have some growing pains,” Kellogg said. “And that doesn’t mean like losses necessarily, just, you know, days in practice and opportunities where maybe we’re just not quite as fluid and smooth as we need to be.”

Kellogg has no concerns over the team’s work ethic, though. He said he is encouraged by their effort to learn and grow as a team.

“They’re asking questions though. They’re watching film. I mean, this group works. I see them in the gym more than I probably have some of the other teams we’ve had and some of the individuals that are in here daily,” Kellogg said. “So I think there’s a want, there’s an excitement. They want to achieve things. They want to take this to a level that we haven’t been able to get it.”

As mentioned, Kellogg is aware of the higher expectations surrounding his program, and says the team shares them. He detailed a recent team retreat where the players shared their goals, which included Sweet 16’s and championships.

“The bar is raised. When we had a team retreat last weekend and went through all those kind of the goals and how we’re going to go about achieving them,” Kellogg added. “They laid out all of this and more for sure that we’ve talked about and getting to Sweet 16’s and doing all sorts of different things, winning championships.”

Find more coverage of the WVU women’s basketball program at WV Sports Now.