Pima Community College Women Entered 2026-27 Season Champions
The Aztecs aim to defend their NJCAA Division II national title after a dominant 30-4 campaign in 2025-26.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Basketball
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The Pima Community College women's basketball team begins the 2026-27 season as defending NJCAA Division II national champions. The team enters the year coming off a 30-4 record and a national tournament run that concluded in a victory in March 2026.
Why it matters
The Aztecs are looking to maintain their momentum after winning the ACCAC and Region I titles last season. The program faces a new competitive landscape as the roster adjusts for the upcoming schedule.
The Aztecs finished the 2025-26 season with a 30-4 record and a national championship win of 64-58. Kiley Sours-Miller, the NJCAA Division II Player of the Year, recorded 27 points in the final game.
The players
Kiley Sours-Miller
The NJCAA Division II Player of the Year led her team to a national title with a 27-point performance in the final game.
Todd Holthaus
He is the head coach of the Pima Community College women's basketball program who recruited an incoming class for the current season.
Melicia Nelson
A key contributor who scored 20 points and recorded 11 rebounds in the championship game before transferring to Southern Utah.
America Cazares
She is recognized for holding the all-time Arizona girls career scoring record.
The details
During the 2026 championship game in Hickory, North Carolina, Pima defeated Kirkwood Community College 64-58. The victory followed a semifinal win against Johnson County Community College and marked the culmination of a season that included an 18-game win streak.
Timeline
March 2026: The Pima Aztecs defeated Kirkwood Community College in the national championship game.
2026-27 season: The Pima Aztecs begin play as defending national champions.
Season Trajectory
The 2026 championship win places the Pima Aztecs in a position to anchor the regional conference hierarchy for the current season. This historical standing forces the program to defend its title against elevated competition from opponents seeking to unseat the top-ranked regional team.
The roster turnover, marked by the departure of Melicia Nelson, necessitates a shift in offensive distribution for the upcoming season. Fans and analysts should monitor how coach Todd Holthaus integrates his new incoming class to sustain the production level established in 2026.
The takeaway
The team enters the year with the target on their back after a record-setting performance in North Carolina. Consistent recruitment will be the primary factor in determining if the program can maintain its championship-level status.
Further reading
For more information on local collegiate sports developments, visit the Tucson Basketball page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KGUN.
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