Coaches Pick UTRGV Basketball Third in Preseason Poll
The Southland Conference coaches placed the Vaqueros third in the upcoming 2026-27 women's basketball standings.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Basketball
Live Poll
Does the preseason ranking of your local college basketball team make you more likely to attend games?
The UTRGV women's basketball team has been selected to finish third in the Southland Conference following a vote by the league's 12 head coaches. The team secured 98 points and one first-place vote in the preseason poll released on October 20.
Why it matters
The preseason ranking serves as an early indicator of expectations for UTRGV as they prepare for the 2026-27 season. This placement positions the program as a primary contender within the conference hierarchy as teams prepare for regular season play.
UTRGV earned 98 points and one first-place vote from the 12 Southland Conference coaches. Lamar topped the poll with 116 points and six first-place votes, followed by Stephen F. Austin with 113 points.
The players
UTRGV
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public university located in the Rio Grande Valley that competes in the Southland Conference.
Lamar
Lamar University is a public institution based in Beaumont that fields intercollegiate athletic teams in the Southland Conference.
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches that is a long-standing member of the Southland Conference.
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is an NCAA Division I athletic conference that sponsors competition for universities primarily in Texas and Louisiana.
The details
The ranking reflects the consensus among league coaches regarding team strength ahead of the new campaign. UTRGV finished ahead of UIW and McNeese in the overall voting tally.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: The Southland Conference released the preseason coaches poll.
November 2, 2026: UTRGV women's basketball opens the season against Arlington Baptist.
Season Trajectory
This preseason poll sets the competitive baseline for the 2026-27 Southland Conference campaign. The selection of UTRGV in the top tier reflects the team's current standing in the conference's hierarchy.
The third-place projection suggests UTRGV is expected to be a factor in the conference title race this season. Fans can track the team's progress toward these expectations starting with the November 2 season opener.
The takeaway
Preseason polls serve as a useful benchmark for gauging team expectations within a conference. Understanding these rankings helps followers identify which programs have the most pressure to perform once games begin.
What happens next
The UTRGV women's basketball team will officially open their 2026-27 season against Arlington Baptist on November 2, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the upcoming season, view the Basketball updates.
Live Poll
Does the preseason ranking of your local college basketball team make you more likely to attend games?
