Women's Hoops Ranked 14th in Preseason Poll

The UW-La Crosse women's basketball team opens its 2026-27 season ranked 14th in the d3hoops.com preseason poll.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Basketball

Women's Hoops Ranked 14th in Preseason Poll

The UW-La Crosse women's basketball team enters the 2026-27 season ranked 14th in the d3hoops.com preseason poll. The Eagles come off a 2025-26 campaign in which they won the WIAC Tournament for the first time and advanced to their first-ever Elite 8.

Why it matters

The ranking reflects a program coming off its most successful season, with a national profile built on its conference tournament title and deep postseason run. Returning most of its core scoring gives the team a foundation for another competitive year in the WIAC and beyond.

The d3hoops.com preseason poll ranks the Eagles 14th nationally, based on the poll's projections before any games are played. Three of the team's top four scorers return, though how those players perform in the coming season remains unknown.

The players

UW-La Crosse

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public university in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and a Division III member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

UW-Oshkosh

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is a public university in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and a WIAC rival that was picked ahead of UW-La Crosse in the preseason conference poll.

The details

The Eagles won the WIAC Tournament for the first time in program history during the 2025-26 season, then advanced to their first Elite 8. The team was picked to finish second in the WIAC behind UW-Oshkosh in a preseason conference poll, and it opens the season Wednesday.

2025-26 season: WIAC Tournament title and first Elite 8 appearance
Wednesday (week of November 11, 2026): UW-La Crosse season opener

Season Trajectory

The preseason ranking builds on the program's breakthrough 2025-26 season, when it won its first WIAC Tournament and reached its first Elite 8. Picked second in the conference behind UW-Oshkosh, the Eagles enter 2026-27 as a team expected to contend for a conference and national position.

The Eagles open their season Wednesday, so the preseason ranking will be tested in the first games. Fans and fantasy players tracking the WIAC can watch how the three returning top scorers perform early.

The takeaway

A preseason ranking is a starting point, and the Eagles will need to live up to it on the court. Their recent WIAC title and Elite 8 run give them a track record to build on as the season begins.