Photo by: (WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)
West Virginia No. 24 in AP and Coaches Preseason Poll
October 20, 2026 12:18 PM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's basketball team comes in at No. 24 in the AP Top 25 Preseason Women's Basketball Poll, released on Tuesday.
The ranking marks the third time the Mountaineers have opened a season inside the AP top 25 since the 2017-18 season when WVU opened play at No. 13. Most recently, the Mountaineers entered the 2024-25 season as the No. 16 team in the nation. It marks just the seventh time in program history that West Virginia has been named in the preseason poll.
A total of three Big 12 teams appeared in the rankings, with No. 15 TCU and No. 22 Oklahoma State joining the Mountaineers in the top 25.
Additionally, the Mountaineers were featured in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 24.
Senior guard Gia Cooke was named a unanimous Preseason All-Big 12 Team selection. West Virginia posted a 28-7 overall record in 2025-26, including a 14-4 mark in conference play. The Mountaineers claimed the 2026 Big 12 Tournament title last season and finished second in the regular season standings.
The Mountaineers open play on Thursday, Oct. 29 against Frostburg State in an exhibition at 7 p.m. ET before opening the regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 3, hosting Rhode Island in a 7 p.m. tip inside Hope Coliseum.
The ranking marks the third time the Mountaineers have opened a season inside the AP top 25 since the 2017-18 season when WVU opened play at No. 13. Most recently, the Mountaineers entered the 2024-25 season as the No. 16 team in the nation. It marks just the seventh time in program history that West Virginia has been named in the preseason poll.
A total of three Big 12 teams appeared in the rankings, with No. 15 TCU and No. 22 Oklahoma State joining the Mountaineers in the top 25.
Additionally, the Mountaineers were featured in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 24.
Senior guard Gia Cooke was named a unanimous Preseason All-Big 12 Team selection. West Virginia posted a 28-7 overall record in 2025-26, including a 14-4 mark in conference play. The Mountaineers claimed the 2026 Big 12 Tournament title last season and finished second in the regular season standings.
The Mountaineers open play on Thursday, Oct. 29 against Frostburg State in an exhibition at 7 p.m. ET before opening the regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 3, hosting Rhode Island in a 7 p.m. tip inside Hope Coliseum.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballSaturday, October 10
Thursday, September 24
Thursday, September 24
Thursday, September 24
