Preseason women's Top 25: Still No. 1

Oct 22, 2025
Brooke Batchelor returns for No. 1 New York University, which has not lost a game since March 2023.
d3photography.com file photo
 

Two undefeated seasons earns a program a lot of credibility, even when that team graduates two players who will likely find themselves on our next All-Decade team.


D3sports.com conversation with Kathy McConnell-Miller

D3sports.com conversation with Kaci Kranson

New York University enters the 2025-26 season with a 62-game winning streak and the No. 1 ranking in our preseason poll. The Violets will look different after graduating two-time Player of the Year Natalie Bruns and All-American defensive stopper Belle Pellecchia. But New York U. returns two starters, a couple of key reserves and more than half of its scoring and rebounding output from last year. 

Unlike last season, NYU was not an unanimous choice for the top spot. Scranton, which returns All-American guard Kaci Kranson, grabbed five No. 1 votes and is ranked second. UW-Oshkosh, Bowdoin and Washington and Lee each earned a top pick, and two-time national runners-up Smith rounds out the top of our poll.

Look beyond those top six picks, and you'll find plenty of new faces. You'll find Cortland, Trinity (Conn.) and UW-La Crosse in the Top 15 after finishing last season outside the Top 25. You'll find John Carroll, which did not receive any votes in our final poll last season, picked No. 14 to start this one. And you'll find a cluster of C's -- Carnegie Mellon, Calvin, Catholic and Christopher Newport -- clumped together in the late teens. 

Forty-nine teams appeared on at least one ballot, including more than half the teams in the NESCAC and WIAC. If the preseason poll is any indication, this will be a more unpredictable season now that we've moved beyond the era of players with five years of eligibility.

Check out the full poll at the link below.

2025-26 women's basketball preseason D3hoops.com Top 25

The first regular-season poll is slated for release on Monday, Nov. 24.

Check out more preview coverage with our D3sports.com conversations below, including two conversations with members of teams in our preseason Top 25.

More 2025-26 D3sports.com Conversations