Photo by: (WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)
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.
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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.
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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.
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Additionally, the Mountaineers were featured in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 24.
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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.
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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.Â
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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.
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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.
Â
Additionally, the Mountaineers were featured in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 24.
Â
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.
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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.Â
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballWednesday, November 11
Wednesday, November 11
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Tuesday, November 03
