RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Wednesday, the Great American Conference released the results of the 2025-26 women’s basketball preseason coaches poll. Harding and Southern Nazarene each received 111 points to tie for first place. The Lady Bisons claimed five first-place votes.
A season ago, the Lady Bisons captured the GAC Championship title by defeating Southeastern Oklahoma State in the final. They must replace three First-Team All-GAC selections in Rory Geer, Sage Hawley and Aubrey Isbell. Hawley added D2CCA All-America honors. Two starters - Josie Williams and Maddi Holt return. Williams averaged 9.8 points per game and shot 40.9 percent on her 3-point tries. Holt averaged 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Last season, the Crimson Storm earned their third-straight NCAA Regional berth. While they lose Hannah Giddey - the 2024-25 GAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year - they return four - Jena Bay, Jordan Hoffman, Hannah Duncan and Jillian Crawford - who combined for 67 starts.
Southwestern Oklahoma State collected three first first-place votes and finished third in the balloting. Following a 16-13 record last year, this year’s Lady Bulldog squad features 10 newcomers, including three Division I transfers.
Southeastern Oklahoma State edged out Oklahoma Baptist by three points for fourth place. The Savage Storm reached the final of the GAC Championships for the third time in the last six years. They won 20 games last season, a 10-win improvement from 2023-24. They return Kenzli Warden, a Second-Team All-GAC selection. She averaged 14.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. She shot 36.8 percent from the 3-point arc.
Last year, the Bison won 20 games for the first time since moving up to Division II. Jaedyn Getman, a Second-Team All-GAC pick, returns. She averaged 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. She made 41.1 percent of her 3-point tries.
East Central claimed sixth, followed by Northwestern Oklahoma State, Arkansas Tech and Henderson State. The Tigers’ Katie Edelen returns after leading the team in scoring at 13.8 points per game. She made the All-GAC Second Team. ECU also brings back Claira Dannefer, the 2024-25 GAC Freshman of the Year, who averaged 8.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
At last year’s GAC Championships, the Rangers upset Oklahoma Baptist for their first-ever win at the event. Kira Bass returns after she averaged 9.6 points and a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per game. The Golden Suns’ AbbiGrace Cunningham led the team in scoring, 9.7 points per game. The Reddies bring back two All-GAC performers in Natalie Cardenas and Brynlee Huggins. The tandem combined for 28.8 points per game.
Southern Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas-Monticello rounded out the poll. The Tigers feature a new head coach in Nick Long. His first team features Madeleine Tipton, who paced the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game.
The Lady Bisons open the season at the Texas Woman’s Tip Off on Friday, November 7. They face Texas Woman’s the following day. SWOSU, Southeastern, Oklahoma Baptist, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Arkansas Tech, Henderson State, SAU and UAM begin on Friday the 14th. Ouachita Baptist and ECU start on Tuesday the 18th. The Crimson Storm debut on the 19th.
The 2026 GAC Championship will take place at Northside Arena in Fort Smith. The top eight teams will compete for the automatic bid starting on Thursday, March 5 and concluding on Sunday, March 8.