SLIAC Women's Basketball coaches are anticipating a three-way race for the league title this year. Principia College, which made a Cinderella tournament run last season, edged out co-regular season champions Webster University and Westminster College in this year's preseason poll.

On the heels of the program's first-ever conference championship, the Principia College Panthers were the coach's pick to win a title again in 2026. The Panthers received 59 total points from the coaches, picking up three first-place votes. Head Coach Ramiro Dominguez returns all five starters from last year's title run. Three-time All-Conference performer Taylor Brown is joined by a pair of defensive stalwarts in Ariana Williams and Lamiya Terrell. Tournament MVP Trinniti Matthews is back as well, along with Hannah Myers. Newcomers Adriyanna Phillips, Gabriela Carmona Gomez, and Holly Gilliam add to the depth.

Webster University finished with 57 points and five first-place votes in the poll. The Gorloks were 24-3 overall and 17-1 in conference play last season. Head Coach Jordan Olufson returns three starters, including Meghan Illingworth. Illingworth was the SLIAC 6th Woman of the Year last season and will get a chance to step into a larger role this season. Joining her are Claire Williams (5th in the league in assists) and Kaimyla Nolen and Emily Kerce. A large group of newcomers includes transfer Miya Webb, who earned SLIAC All-Conference honors one year ago.

Westminster College finished 3rd in the poll with 50 points, receiving one first-place vote. The Blue Jays are coached by Talisha Washington and were 20-6 overall and won a share of the regular season title at 17-1 in conference play. Aly Bullock is the lone returning starter for the team and is one of the SLIAC's top defensive players. She earned All-Defensive team honors last year and set the school record for single-season blocks. Gizelle Carretto steps into the guard role.

Greenville University totaled 44 points from coaches after going 11-14 overall and 9-8 in conference play. The Panthers bring back six of their top ten players including two starters in Alyssa Seymour (9.9 ppg) and Cortney Blummer (6.0 ppg, 6.0 rpb). Head Coach Roy Mulholland brings in a group of newcomers that includes Addie Goheen, Trinity Wade, Morgan Alexander, Alaina Maurer, and Lera Schmeink.

Spalding University gathered 34 points in the voting after finishing 10-16 overall last season. Head Coach Raven Merriweather has three starters coming back. Zaneiya Batiste set a conference record, grabbing 15.6 rebounds per game last season. MaKaylia Lute (7.7 ppg) and Nicole Hollowell (8.7 ppg) give the Golden Eagles the senior leadership a team needs. Top newcomers that should play a role are A'Nieja Russell, NeVaeh Raphael, Mya Bennett, and Brooke McNeal.

With 29 points, Mississippi University for Women comes in 6th on the poll. The Owls were 8-17 last season under first-year head coach Eric Vaughn. He will build around three seniors, including a pair of All-Conference players in Conley Langford and Calysia Phillips. Langford will look to follow up on last season's performance in which she scored 15.9 points per game and reached double figures in 21 of 25 games. Phillips will be eased back after missing the final month of the season with an injury and hopes to be completely ready by the second semester. Kymani Smith and Jessica Hughes help fill out the rotation. The group of newcomers includes six freshmen and three transfers in Jamyia Bowen, Fantasia Wilson, and Bo Ciimban.

Lyon College received 25 points on the poll. This will be Michael Peckham's first season as the head coach of the Scots after spending the previous two years as an assistant. The Scots were 8-17 overall last season and will be led by returning All-Conference players Natalya Kaza and Savanna Lopez. Kaza averaged 22 ppg, connecting on 37 percent of her threes, while Lopez put up 15 ppg and 10 rpg. Molly Mason also returns while the team brings in transfers Alyssa Abascal, Kaysharia Woods, and Paris Halliburton.

Eureka College sits in 8th place on the poll with 17 points. First-year head coach Isaiah Pace takes over a program that was 16-11 last season but returns just one starter. The team's new faces include Courtney Hart, Railynn Brown, Brooklyn Bowman, Miracle Armstrong, Abigail Martinez, and Daniesha Oliver.

Blackburn College received 9 total points in the coaches' poll. The Beavers were 1-24 last season and return two starters. Kenadee Frey was the team's leading scorer last year at 10.9 ppg while also grabbing 5.8 rpg. Zoe Mitchell is also back after putting up 5.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg. Head Coach Allen Dehority is excited for the return of Kailynn Kruep, who missed last year with an injury, and the group of newcomers: Gaby Solis, Eizaenirys Allende, Vicki McGee, and Abby Borders.