SJC selected to finish atop in 2025-26 WBB Preseason Coaches Poll
WINTHROP, Mass. – Saint Joseph's (Maine) looks to be back on top of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) as the Monks were picked as the 2025-26 preseason favorites as conducted by the league's 13 head coaches. SJC finished as the runner-up in last year's championship game and was voted to reclaim the top spit after receiving 160 points, including six first-place votes.
Following behind them is Emmanuel, who earned five first-place votes with 146 points as they finished seventh in the league last season but are no stranger to getting to the championship game. The Saints will look to be in contention for the league's automatic qualifier this upcoming season as an aggressive contender.
Reigning GNAC champion University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) looks to go back-to-back after receiving 144 points, including the final two first-place votes. The Blue Jays had quite an underdog run in last year's postseason including beating top seeded Johnson & Wales (former GNAC member) and two-seeded SJC in the title game, earning their trip to the NCAA tournament and matching up with nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins.
Albertus Magnus comes into this season projected to finish fourth, receiving 134 points. Rounding out the top five is Rivier, who earned 120 points.
Tying at six in was Regis (85) and Lasell (85) followed by Norwich with 74 to round out the top eight.
New England College comes in at No. 9 with 66 points while Colby-Sawyer (61), Elms (61), Dean (30) and Mitchell (17) fill in the final spots.
Tip off for the 2025-26 women’s basketball season is on Friday, Nov. 7 as teams open with non-conference action. Conference play gets underway on Saturday, Jan. 10. Teams will complete a 12-game single round robin conference season with the top-8 teams at the end of the regular season earning berths into the 2025-26 GNAC Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament. The postseason starts with the GNAC Quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Following the quarterfinals, the remaining four teams will play in the GNAC Semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 26 with the tournament culminating in the GNAC Championship game on Saturday, February 28. The winner of the championship game will be named 2025-26 GNAC Women’s Basketball Champion and earn the league’s automatic qualifier into the 2026 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship.
2025-26 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll Results
| 1) | Saint Joseph's (Maine) | 160 (6) |
| 2) | Emmanuel | 146 (5) |
| 3) | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) | 144 (2) |
| 4) | Albertus Magnus | 134 |
| 5) | Rivier | 120 |
| T-6) | Regis | 85 |
| T-6) | Lasell | 85 |
| 8) | Norwich | 74 |
| 9) | New England College | 66 |
| T-10) | Colby-Sawyer | 61 |
| T-10) | Elms | 61 |
| 12) | Dean | 30 |
| 13) | Mitchell | 17 |
ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
Stay up to date with all the latest news from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC)!
'Follow' us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, and 'Like' us on Facebook!
-#TheGNAC-