Missouri State Women Earned Top Preseason Ranking

The Lady Bears claimed the top spot in the Conference USA preseason coaches poll.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Basketball

Missouri State Women Earned Top Preseason Ranking

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Conference USA coaches voted the Missouri State women's basketball team as the league's preseason favorite. The team secured 90 total points and eight of ten first-place votes ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Why it matters

The ranking reflects high expectations for the program as it enters the new season with significant returning talent. The team aims to leverage its veteran core to maintain a competitive edge in Conference USA.

Missouri State received eight of ten first-place votes in the poll. The team returns 76% of its scoring and 80% of its rebounding production from the previous season.

The players

Missouri State Lady Bears

The women's basketball team at Missouri State University based in Springfield, Missouri.

Kaemyn Bekemeier

The Missouri State standout player who was honored as the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year.

Lainie Douglas

A Missouri State basketball player selected for the preseason All-CUSA team.

Maiesha Washington

A Missouri State basketball player named to the preseason All-CUSA team.

The details

Kaemyn Bekemeier, who averaged 17.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season, was named the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year. Additionally, teammates Lainie Douglas and Maiesha Washington earned spots on the preseason All-CUSA team as the squad returns seven players from their previous campaign.

The conference released the results of the coaches poll on October 8, 2026.
The team is scheduled to compete throughout the 2026-27 season.

Season Trajectory

This preseason ranking positions the Lady Bears as the team to beat within the conference throughout the 2026-27 season. Maintaining this momentum will be essential as the program competes for a favorable seed in upcoming tournament brackets.

With 76% of scoring and 80% of rebounding returning, the squad remains statistically well-positioned to outperform their record from the previous season. The preseason designation sets high performance benchmarks for upcoming conference matchups.

The takeaway

The team enters the year with significant continuity, as the return of seven players provides a stable foundation for the upcoming schedule. Fans can track individual performance metrics as the players aim to justify their preseason honors during the regular season.