The Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC) has released its 2025–26 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, setting the stage for what promises to be another highly competitive season across the West. Arizona Christian emerged as the preseason favorite, collecting three first-place votes and 56 total points following its 25-win campaign and regular-season conference title last year.

2025-26 GSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

Rank	School	1st	Pts
1	Arizona Christian	3	56
T2	Hope International	4	50
T2	The Master’s	2	50
4	Park Gilbert	—	45
5	OUAZ	—	36
6	Embry-Riddle	—	31
7	Benedictine Mesa	—	30
8	Life Pacific	—	17
9	La Sierra	—	9

The race behind ACU was razor-thin, with Hope International and The Master’s finishing in a dead heat for second place at 50 points apiece. The Royals actually garnered the most first-place votes in the poll, earning four of the nine available, while The Master’s claimed two—a clear indication of just how balanced the top tier of the league appears heading into the new season. Park Gilbert, which continues to climb in its second season as a member of the conference, secured the fourth spot with 45 points, while OUAZ rounded out the top five at 36.

The rest of the standings showcased a competitive middle group as well, with Embry-Riddle (31 points) and Benedictine Mesa (30) separated by just one point in the battle for sixth and seventh. Life Pacific collected 17 points to place eighth, while La Sierra, competing in its first full GSAC season after joining from the Cal Pac, rounded out the poll with 9 points.

Last season saw Arizona Christian capture the GSAC regular-season championship at 12–2 in league play, while The Master’s won the GSAC Tournament title, sending both teams to the NAIA National Tournament. The Firestorm, Mustangs, and several others return substantial portions of their rosters for 2025–26, setting up another year of intense competition throughout one of the NAIA’s premier women’s basketball conferences.