NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Merrimack College women's basketball coach Missy Traversi has made a notable addition to her coaching staff.
Cenk Akarpinar, who previously served as an advanced scout for the WNBA's Dallas Wings and Los Angeles Sparks, will join the Merrimack staff ahead of the 2026-27 season. Akarpinar arrives in North Andover with extensive experience in player evaluation, scouting and basketball analytics having worked with both collegiate and professional players.
"We're thrilled to welcome Cenk to Merrimack," Traversi said. "Cenk is uncommon in the sense that few coaches bring the level of professional experience he has gained during his time in the WNBA. His expertise in scouting, analytics, game planning and player development will strengthen our program, and we look forward to the impact he will make on our student-athletes and coaching staff."
During his time with the Wings (2025-26), Akarpinar provided detailed opponent analysis, scouting reports, video breakdowns and strategic recommendations. He evaluated league-wide trends, analyzed personnel and team tendencies and supported the Dallas coaching staff with game preparation. Akarpinar was responsible for much of the same during his tenure with the Sparks (2023-24) with additional responsibilities including film breakdown, in-game evaluations as well as individual player edits.
In addition to his experience in professional scouting, Akarpinar previously served as an assistant coach for Mitchell College men's basketball program and assisted in player development, video coordination, drill design, playbook preparation, opponent scouting and film analysis.
Akarpinar attended the University of Gaziantep where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2021. He completed the Euroleague Head Coaches Academy at the University of Belgrade in 2022.
