Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason Polls Put Oklahoma State First
On November 3, 2026, preseason polls placed Oklahoma State, TCU, Baylor and West Virginia at the top of the Big 12 women’s basketball race, while Houston, UCF and Cincinnati were among the teams projected near the bottom.
The Big 12 coaches’ and media preseason polls agree on their top four, but put Oklahoma State ahead of two-time defending regular-season champion TCU. Baylor and West Virginia round out the leading group. The season’s standings will test how quickly teams with reshaped rosters can come together.
Oklahoma State strengthened its roster through the transfer portal and retained Stailee Heard. Audi Crooks is the Cowgirls’ leading offensive talent, while Florida transfer Liv McGill adds scoring. Jadyn Wooten, meanwhile, transferred from Oklahoma State to TCU.
TCU added Wooten and North Carolina guard Lanie Grant, and will also look to freshman Jessie-May Hall to help replace Donovyn Hunter, who transferred to UCLA. Hall was named Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year. The Horned Frogs also return center Clara Silva as they seek their first trip beyond the Elite Eight.
Baylor added forward-center Kate Koval and guard Tianna Thompson, while Taliah Scott is back after scoring 19.7 points per game in the previous season. West Virginia brings back Gia Cooke, who averaged 15 points, and added Alexis Bordas and Skylar Forbes, each coming off seasons averaging 15.5 points per game.
The polls placed UCF last, Cincinnati 14th and Houston 15th. Houston finished 7-23 overall and 1-17 in conference play last season. The projections also identified Kansas as a possible top-five team, while placing Utah, Cincinnati and Iowa State among the bottom five. Polls provide an early outlook; how the teams’ new combinations perform on court will shape the race.