CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Ball State Cardinals have been selected as MAC regular season favorites in the 2026-27 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Head coaches were not allowed to vote for themselves in the poll.
The Cardinals (111 points) received five votes to win the regular-season championship while also garnering four votes to win the 2027 MAC Tournament title at Rocket Arena.
Miami was picked to finish second with 108 points and four first-place votes, while earning three votes to win the tournament championship.
UMass (103 points), Toledo (98 points) and Ohio (75 points) rounded out the top five in this year's preseason poll.
The Rockets received a pair of first-place votes while tying for the league high with four votes to win the tournament championship and earn the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
Additionally, the Minutewomen received a first-place vote in the preseason poll as well as a vote to win the tournament.
Eleven of the league's top women's basketball players were also selected to the Preseason All-MAC First and Second Teams, as announced by the league office.
A complete list of the MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll and All-MAC Teams can be found below.
2026-27 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Ball State (5) – 111 points
2. Miami (4) – 108 points
3. UMass (1) – 103 points
4. Toledo (2) – 98 points
5. Ohio – 75 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 61 points
7. Kent State– 59 points
8. Bowling Green – 50 points
9. Central Michigan – 44 points
10. Western Michigan – 37 points
11. Akron – 27 points
12. Buffalo – 19 points
Tournament Champion: Ball State – 4; Toledo – 4; Miami – 3; UMass – 1
2026-27 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Kendall Carruthers, Toledo
Yahmani McKayle, UMass
Bailey Tabeling, Ohio
Tessa Towers, Ball State
Amber Tretter, Miami
Second Team
Faith Fedd-Robinson, Toledo
Peyton Hill, Eastern Michigan
Grace Kingery, Ball State
Julianna Lamendola, Miami
Jyah LoVett, Toledo
Aniya Rowe, Buffalo
