Two-Time Defending National Champions Lead the Way in the Preseason Top 25 Poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The wait is over, the 2025–26 NAIA women’s basketball season tips off on Thursday, Oct. 23. Let’s take a look at the Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll in preparation.  

With returning stars, promising newcomers and championship dreams fueling teams across the country, the 2025–26 campaign promises to deliver unforgettable moments, fierce competition, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

After spending the entire 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons at No. 1, the two-time defending champions Dordt (Iowa) Defenders will open the new season at No. 1 for the 17th consecutive poll. 

The preseason poll generated significant movement from the 2024-25 final regular season poll, following the final finishes in each team’s respective postseason runs and the addition of new players to rosters for the upcoming season. The only teams to remain at the same place were Dordt (Iowa) and Campbellsville (Ky.), while Carroll (Mont.), Indiana Tech, St. Francis (Ill.), Rocky Mountain (Mont.), Shawnee State (Ohio) and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) all moved into the Top 25. 

	1. Dordt (Iowa)Games prior to next poll: Oct. 24 Viterbo (Wis.), Nov. 7 Grand View (Iowa), Nov. 8 John Brown (Ark.), Nov. 11 Dakota State (S.D.), Notes: Opens the 2025-26 season at No. 1 after winning the program’s second title. The Defenders return 2025 Tournament MVP and Player of the Year Macy Sievers alongside Gracie Schoonhoven, Olivia Harazin, Willow Bleeker and Desta Hoogendoorn.
	2. Bethel (Tenn.)Games prior to next poll: Oct. 25 Mount Mercy (Iowa), Oct. 26 Culver-Stockton (Mo.), Oct. 31 Johnson (Tenn.), Nov. 1 Indiana Wesleyan, Nov. 7 Stephens (Mo.), Nov. 8 IU Southeast, Nov. 10 Milligan (Tenn.)Notes: Advanced to the semifinals for the first time in program history in 2025 and will return all but one to a roster that was headlined by Madison and Micah Hart, who were first and second team All-Americans, respectively. The Wildcats also add a top newcomer in Ada Koelling. The last time the team was voted this high was during the 2015-16 season, when they were tied for No. 2.
	3. Campbellsville (Ky.)Games prior to next poll: Oct. 28 Union Commonwealth (Ky.), Oct. 31 Indiana Wesleyan, Nov. 1 Johnson (Tenn.), Nov. 7 IU Southeast (Ind.), Nov. 8 Stephens (Mo.)Notes: Finished their 2025 campaign in the Round of 16. The Tigers return some top talent, including Tyra Flowers, Whitney Hay, Paige Serafini, Dea Bradley, and Talynne Shearer, with a couple of freshmen added to the roster expected to make an impact quickly in Abby Gilbert and Katy Smiley.
	4. Dakota State (S.D.)Games prior to next poll: Oct. 27 Minnesota-Morris, Oct. 31 Kansas Wesleyan, Nov. 1 Bethel (Kan.), Nov. 11 Dordt (Iowa)Notes: Finished the 2025 season in the second round of the national tournament. Returns North Star Player of the Year and Second Team All-American Tabor Teel, along with three other starters.
	5. Marian (Ind.)Games prior to next poll: Nov. 1 Pikeville (Ky.), Nov. 7 Saint Xavier (Ill.), Nov. 8 IU Northwest (Ind.), Nov. 11 Oakland City (Ind.)Notes: Finished the 2025 season in the quarterfinals, falling to the national champions. The Knights return first team All-American Abbey McNally alongside Taylor Double, Kenna Kirby, Olivia Faust, Mardisyn Bailey and Kiley McNalley.
	6. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)Games prior to next poll: Oct. 25 Oakwood (Ala.), Oct. 28 Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.), Oct. 31 St. Thomas (Fla.), Nov. 1 UHSP (Mo.), Nov. 8 Bryan (Tenn.), Nov. 11 Rust (Miss.) Notes: Finished the 2025 season in the quarterfinals of the national championship.
	7. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)Games prior to next poll: Oct. 24 Dickinson State (N.D.), Oct. 25 Dickinson State (N.D.), Nov. 7 Montana Western, Nov. 8 Park Gilbert (Ariz.)Notes: Finished its 2025 campaign in the second round. Returns three top players in Darian Herring who set the program single-season blocks record, Payton Hymas and Sitara Byrd. The Warriors welcome two newcomers, freshman Madalyn Green and transfer junior Ellee Brockman.
	8. Saint Francis (Ind.)Games prior to next poll: Oct. 31 Viterbo (Wis..), Nov. 1 Corenerstone (Mich.), Nov. 7 IU Northwest (Ind.), Nov. 8 Saint Xavier (Ill.) Notes: Finished its 2025 season in the first round. Tabbed as the Crossroads League preseason No. 1 with notable players in Cali Gregory, Isabella Gizzi and Renna Schwieterman listed on the Crossroads League Preseason All-League First-Team.
	9. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)Games prior to next poll: Oct. 28 Drake University, Nov. 4 Bismarck State (N.D.), Nov. 7 MidAmerica Christian (Kan.), Nov. 8 Arizona ChristianNotes: Finished its 2025 campaign in the second round. DWU returns eight of its top nine players and was picked as No. 2 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference preseason poll.
	10. Indiana WesleyanGames prior to next poll: Oct. 16 IU South Bend (Ind.), Oct. 24 Calumet (Ind.), Oct. 31 Campbellsville (Ky.), Nov. 1 Bethel (Tenn.), Nov. 4 IU Northwest (Ind.), Nov. 7 Cornerstone (Mich.), Nov. 8 Aquinas (Mich.), Nov. 11 Indiana TechNotes: Finished its 2025 campaign as the runner-up to Dordt (Iowa). Was picked at No. 3 in the Crossroads League preseason poll.

Dropped from Top 25: Georgetown (Ky.), William Carey (Miss.), Rio Grande (Ohio), Wayland Baptist (Texas), Providence (Mont.), Xavier (La.), Mid-America Christian (Okla.)

Receiving Votes: Governors State (Ill.) 98, Loyola (La.) 94, Rio Grande (Ohio) 81, Georgetown (Ky.) 69, Providence (Mont.) 69, Florida Memorial 60, Pikeville (Ky.) 49, Columbia (Mo.) 34, Xavier (La.) 31, Southeastern (Fla.) 25, Montana Tech 19, Grand View (Iowa) 18, Evangel (Mo.) 17, William Carey (Miss.) 15, Huntington (Ind.) 15, College of Idaho 14, Wayland Baptist (Texas) 11, LSU Alexandria (La.) 10, Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 8, Morningside (Iowa) 6, Milligan (Tenn.) 4, Friends (Kan.) 4, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 3, Williams Baptist (Ark.) 2, Hope International (Calif.) 2

Poll Methodology

• The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
• A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
• The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system:
  • 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
• The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
• Teams receiving only one point are not listed as “receiving votes.”
• For the Preseason Poll, there is no “previous ranking” column since it is the initial poll and differs from the prior rating system. 

Key: RV – Receiving Votes, NR – Not Ranked, ▲– Climbed, ▼- Dropped, ● – Steady