The MIAA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its preseason rankings for the 2025-26 women’s basketball season. The Tigers of Fort Hays State led the coaches poll while the Pittsburg State Gorillas finished as the top team in the media poll.
The MIAA tips off the 2025-26 basketball season today, Monday, October 6, at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City as the Association hosts its annual Basketball Media Day presented by Seigfreid Bingham. Fans can watch the 2026 MIAA Basketball Media Day live, for free, on The MIAA Network.
It was a close battle for the No. 1 spot in the 2025-26 coaches preseason poll with the top three teams finishing just four points from one another, while both the MIAA coaches and media members who cover MIAA teams selected the same five teams to house in their top five.
Fort Hays State topped the MIAA coaches poll with 152 points and two first-place votes. The Tigers finished the 2024-25 season 28-5 overall and 16-3 in the MIAA to finish second in the regular season standings. Fort Hays was also the runner-up of the 2025 MIAA Basketball Championship and earned an at-large bid into the NCAA postseason, where their season ended in the regional semifinals. The Tigers were picked second in the media poll with 299 points and five first-place selections.
Washburn finished second in the coaches’ poll with 148 points and six first-place votes. The Ichabods went 18-13 overall and finished 11-8 in MIAA action last season. They return last season’s Co-Newcomer of the Year Payton Sterk, and All-Defensive Team and Second Team All-MIAA selection Yiibari Nwidadah. Washburn was picked third in the media’s preseason poll with 276 points and three first-place votes.
The Gorillas concluded the coaches’ top three teams with 114 points and five first-place selections, but led the media poll with a 27-point lead and 13 first-place nods. Pitt State is the league’s reigning regular season champion and has won the last two MIAA tournament titles. The Gorillas took their 2024-25 season all the way to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals, where they lost to the eventual national champion, Grand Valley State. Pitt ended their historic run season 33-4 overall and 18-1 in the MIAA.
Central Missouri and Nebraska Kearney finished fourth and fifth in both the coaches and media polls. The Jennies went 17-15 overall and 8-11 in the MIAA last season while the Lopers finished 20-9 overall, 13-6 in the MIAA.
The complete rankings for both the MIAA coaches and media preseason women’s basketball polls are listed below.
The 2025-26 MIAA women’s basketball season will feature three new head coaches – MJ Baker is entering her first season at Emporia State, Hannah Moeller is entering her first season at Central Oklahoma, and Luke Scheidecker is entering his first season at Missouri Western.
The NCAA Division II women’s basketball season officially tips off Friday, October 31, with MIAA teams competing in Division II Tip Off Classic events. The 2026 MIAA Basketball Championships are scheduled for March 4-8 at the historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo. To view the complete 2025-26 schedules for all 14 MIAA women’s basketball programs, visit theMIAA.com/womensbasketball.
2025-26 MIAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES POLL
1. Fort Hays State [2] – 152 points
2. Washburn [6] – 148 points
3. Pittsburg State [5] – 144 points
4. Central Missouri [1] – 138 points
5. Nebraska Kearney – 135 points
6. Missouri Western – 99 points
7. Missouri Southern – 95 points
8. Northwest Missouri – 78 points
9. Northeastern State – 76 points
10. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 73 points
11. Emporia State – 48 points
12. Central Oklahoma – 44 points
13. Rogers State – 28 points
14. Newman – 16 points
[#] - First Place Votes
2025-26 MIAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA POLL
1. Pittsburg State [13] – 326 points
2. Fort Hays State [5] – 299 points
3. Washburn [3] – 276 points
4. Central Missouri [4] – 271 points
5. Nebraska Kearney – 268 points
6. Missouri Western – 227 points
7. Northwest Missouri – 187 points
8. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 185 points
9. Missouri Southern – 176 points
10. Emporia State – 127 points
11. Northeastern State – 111 points
12. Central Oklahoma – 92 points
13. Rogers State – 49 points
14. Newman – 31 points
[#] - First Place Votes