KANSAS - Bethel College secured the top spot in the 2026 KCAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced Tuesday. The Threshers earned the No. 1 ranking by accumulating 162 total points and six first-place votes. The Threshers finished in a tie for second place in the 2025-26 KCAC regular-season standings.
Last year's regular-season and conference tournament champions, Evangel University, were ranked No. 2 by the coaches in their preseason poll, with 155 total points and four first-place votes. Tabor College, Evangel's opponent in the conference tournament final last season, was ranked No. 3 in the preseason poll with 149 total points and the final four first-place votes.
Rounding out the Top Five of the KCAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll are Friends University at No. 4 with 129 total points, and Sterling College at No. 5 with 104 total points.
2026 KCAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
| Rank |
Institution |
Total Points |
First-Place Votes |
| 1 |
Bethel College |
162 |
6 |
| 2 |
Evangel University |
155 |
4 |
| 3 |
Tabor College |
149 |
4 |
| 4 |
Friends University |
129 |
|
| 5 |
Sterling College |
104 |
|
| 6 |
Kansas Wesleyan University |
103 |
|
| 7 |
University of Saint Mary |
96 |
|
| 8 |
Ottawa University |
95 |
|
| 9 |
Bethany College |
86 |
|
| 10 |
Avila University |
59 |
|
| 11 |
Oklahoma Wesleyan University |
53 |
|
| 12 |
McPherson College |
41 |
|
| 13 |
York University |
26 |
|
| 14 |
Southwestern College |
16 |
|
—KCAC—