Pirate Preview: Shailyn Pinkney ('26-'27)

Published: Saturday, September 19, 2026

by Ryder Nuesell

On a Seton Hall team that features five freshmen and three transfers, Shailyn Pinkney remains one of the core pieces of the Pirates’ squad. A defensive specialist, Pinkney returns to The Hall for her fifth year of holding down the Pirate backcourt in 2026.

 

Given the nickname “Baby Shay” in her early years at Seton Hall in order to avoid confusion with teammate Sha’lynn Hagans, Pinkney is no longer a baby Pirate. 

 

After a senior season averaging 3.8 points and 1.2 rebounds per game, she enters a graduate year looking to bring further success to the program and provide veteran leadership to a relatively young roster.

 

On a team that battled the injury bug all season long in 2025-26, Pinkney played in 28 of the team’s 32 games and started in 17 of them. Her ability to remain on the floor and contribute in a variety of roles made her a valuable piece of the Pirates’ rotation throughout the season.

 

A career 35.4% shooter, the Connecticut native was more aggressive than ever last season, taking 99 total shot attempts throughout the season. Prior to this, the most shots she had ever taken were in her freshman season, when she attempted 78 field goals. 

 

The increased willingness to shoot showed another dimension of Pinkney’s game as she took on a larger offensive role. But shot attempts were not the only area in which Pinkney excelled. Totaling 62 assists and 15 steals, the forward found multiple other ways to impact the game, being selfless with the basketball and being scrappy on the defensive end.

 

Her defensive presence has remained one of the defining parts of her game, allowing her to make an impact even when her offensive numbers do not jump off the stat sheet.

 

That versatility could become even more important in 2026-27. With five freshmen joining the roster, Pinkney is one of the players the Pirates can rely on to provide experience both on and off the court.

 

Her familiarity with the program and Tony Bozzella’s system gives her a unique opportunity to help guide younger players through the demands of a BIG EAST season.

 

After a second-round elimination in the BIG EAST Tournament and a first-round elimination in the WBIT, the Pirates will look to avenge their early exits and make a push for the NCAA Tournament in 2026-27. 

 

Alongside fellow Pirate veterans Savannah Catalon and Ja’Kahla Craft, expect Pinkney to continue her strong leadership of the Seton Hall women’s basketball team while embodying the scrappy defense that Bozzella and the Pirates bring to every matchup.

 

Ryder Nuesell can be reached at ryder.nuesell@student.shu.edu 

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