Women's Basketball | 10/6/2026 9:02:00 AM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Defending MIAA Regular Season Champion University of Central Missouri Jennies Basketball was voted as the preseason favorite in both the 2026-27 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll and MIAA Preseason Media Poll, the conference office announced Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the annual MIAA Basketball Media Day at the College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City, Mo.

The Jennies received 163 points and 10 first-place votes in the preseason coaches' poll and 372 points and 16 first-place votes in the preseason media poll.

Fort Hays State was second in both polls with 147 points and one first-place vote (coaches' poll) and 355 points and 13 first-place votes (media poll), while Missouri Southern rounded out the top three in third in both polls, receiving 143 points and one first-place vote (coaches' poll) and 325 points (media poll). 

The full preseason coaches' and media polls may be found below.

UCM welcomes back four starters from last season's team that won the MIAA Regular Season Title with a 17-2 conference mark and an overall record of 26-7, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Central Regional, including returning 2025-26 First Team All-MIAA and MIAA Defensive Team honoree Taylor Weishaar, in addition to Hayden Heim, Makenzie Farmer, and Neely Schaaf. 

Central Missouri is slated to tip off its 2026-27 season at the Midwest Tip-Off Challenge Oct. 30-Nov. 1 in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. 

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