IRVING, Texas – The Big 12 has released the media preseason poll for Monster Energy Big 12 Women’s Basketball ahead of the 2026-27 season. The poll was voted on by Big 12 and national media members who regularly cover the league.
Oklahoma State was voted atop the poll, followed by TCU, Baylor and West Virginia in the top four. Arizona State, Kansas, BYU and Colorado were picked fifth through eighth, while Texas Tech, K-State, Iowa State, Utah, Arizona, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF rounded out the poll.
The Cowgirls were also selected as the favorite in the Big 12 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, while Audi Crooks was named the league’s Preseason Player of the Year and Liv McGill garnered Preseason Newcomer of the Year honors. The full list of preseason coaches’ honors can be found at
Big12Sports.com.
Three of the top four teams in the preseason media poll are also featured in the preseason AP Top 25, marking the third consecutive season that at least three league programs have appeared in the national preseason ranking.
The Big 12 had eight teams selected to the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, matching the league record set in 2008. It marked the third consecutive season that the league has sent at least seven teams to March Madness. The Conference finished the regular season as one of just two leagues nationally to have 75% of its teams ranked within the top 60 of the NET and had the second-best regular season record among Power Four leagues in games against other P4 teams.
The regular season will begin Monday, Nov. 2, with league play set to start Saturday, Dec. 19. All 16 teams will head to Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center for the 2027 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament from Wednesday, March 3 through Sunday/Monday, March 7/8^.
The Monster Energy Big 12 Men’s Basketball media preseason poll will be released Thursday, Oct. 29.
2026-27 Monster Energy Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason Media Poll
- Oklahoma State
- TCU
- Baylor
- West Virginia
- Arizona State
- Kansas
- BYU
- Colorado
- Texas Tech
- K-State
- Iowa State
- Utah
- Arizona
- Cincinnati
- Houston
- UCF
^Should BYU advance to the Championship game, it will be played Monday, March 8.