KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Washburn women's basketball was picked to finish 4th in the MIAA Preseason Media Poll and 5th in the Preseason Coaches Poll released by the conference on Tuesday morning.
The Ichabods are coming off a 24-8 season going 14-5 in the MIAA, good for a 3rd place finish in the conference regular season standings. Washburn went on to win three games in three days at the MIAA Tournament to claim the 10th MIAA Tournament Championship in program history defeating Central Missouri 53-44.
They returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 13 years where they advanced to the NCAA Central Region Quarterfinals.
In the media preseason poll Washburn received one first-place nod with 298 total points in the poll. Central Missouri sits in the top spot with 372 points and 16 first-place votes. They are followed by Fort Hays State with 355 points and 13 first-place nods with Missouri Southern rounding out the top three. Pittsburg State is just behind the Ichabods in the five spot with 281 total points.
Picked fifth in the coaches poll, Washburn also received one first-place vote with 113 total points. Central Missouri also claimed the top spot with 163 points and 10 of 14 first-place votes. Fort Hays State got one vote at the top spot and finished with 147 points to sit in second. Missouri Southern ranks third with one first-place vote and 143 points followed by Northwest Missouri at No. 4. Missouri Western was picked No. 7 but received the final first-place nod.
The 2026-27 season will get underway for the Ichabods on Thursday, Oct. 29 with an exhibition against Kansas inside Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. beginning at 6:30 p.m.
WOMEN'S PRESEASON COACHES POLL:
1. Central Missouri [10] – 163 points
2. Fort Hays State [1] – 147 points
3. Missouri Southern [1] – 143 points
4. Northwest Missouri – 120 points
5. Washburn [1] – 113 points
6. Pittsburg State – 108 points
7. Missouri Western [1] – 107 points
8. Nebraska Kearney – 93 points
9. Northeastern State – 91 points
10. Emporia State – 56 points
11. Central Oklahoma – 53 points
12. Rogers State – 35 points
13. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 28 points
14. Newman – 17 points
[#] - First Place Votes
WOMEN'S PRESEASON MEDIA POLL:
1. Central Missouri [16] – 372 points
2. Fort Hays State [13] – 355 points
3. Missouri Southern – 325 points
4. Washburn [1] – 298 points
5. Pittsburg State – 281 points
6. Northwest Missouri – 245 points
7. Missouri Western – 204 points
8. Northeastern State – 201 points
9. Emporia State – 171 points
10. Nebraska Kearney – 149 points
11. Central Oklahoma – 122 points
12. Rogers State – 109 points
13. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 75 points
14. Newman – 33 points
[#] - First Place Votes
