ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2025-26 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday with Minnesota Morris being predicted to win the conference championship. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
Complete poll
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
Minnesota Morris (6) |
36 |
| 2 |
UW-Superior |
28 |
| 3 |
Martin Luther |
24 |
| 4 |
Bethany Lutheran (1) |
23 |
| 5 |
Northwestern |
17 |
| 6 |
North Central |
10 |
| 7 |
Crown |
9 |
#1 Minnesota Morris: 36 points
The Cougars received 36 points for the top spot on the poll and six first-place votes from their conference competitors.
Head coach: Tim Grove | 20th season |
Top Returners (UMAC games stats)
- Maddy Grove, JR, G | UMAC Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference| Third-team All-Region | 22.1 PPG, 6.3 rpg, 1.5 stl/g |
- Shelby Mortenson, Sr, P | Honorable Mention All-Conference| 8.5 PPG, 7.8 rpg |
- Itzel Salazar, Sr, G | Defensive Team | 7.6 PPG, 2.1 stl/g, 41% 3 pt |
#2 UW-Superior: 28 points
The Yellowjackets received 28 points to rank second in the poll. UW-Superior won the UMAC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament last season.
Head coach: Eveline Parsons | First season |
Top Returners
- Elsa Olson, Sr., G | All-UMAC HM | 8.5 ppg, 3.1 reb/g, 2.1 ast/g |
- MyKenzie Leccia, Sr., G | UMAC DPOY | All-UMAC Def. Team | 7.9 ppg, 1.5 stl/g, 4.1 reb/g |
- Charlotte Ferstl, Jr., F | 6.9 reb/g, 18 blks, 7.6 ppg |
#3 Martin Luther: 24 points
The Knights received 24 points to rank third in the poll.
Head coach: Dan Gawrisch |11th season |
Top Returners
- Mya Morris, Jr., G | First Team All-Conference | 4th in UMAC in scoring (14.7 ppg) | broke the MLC single-season record for most 3-point field goals (82) | was second on the team in assists (50) and tied the MLC single-game record for made 3-pointers (7) last season in first year with the program.
- Lydia Feidt, Sr., F | 3rd on MLC in scoring (7.8 PPG), led MLC in FG (48.1) and FT percentage (78.1) last season as a junior | leading returner in blocked shots (15) from last season.
- Ava Stein, So., F | Leading rebounder amongst returners (5.2 rpg) | 3rd in scoring amongst returners in scoring (7.7 PPG) |2nd in FG percentage from last season (42.5) for the Knights.
#4 Bethany Lutheran: 23 points
The Vikings earned 23 points to rank fourth and the final first-place vote.
Head coach: Emma Purfeest | 3rd season
Top Returners
- Arinn McGee, So., F | 2024-25 UMAC Rookie of the Year | 6.6 PPG, 5.0 rpg, 14 blks
- Juliana Ewald, Jr., G | 2024-25 UMAC Honorable Mention | 8.9 PPG, 3.8 rpg, 40 assists, 33 steals
- Kaylee Hunter, Sr., G | 5.5 PPG, 2.4 rpg, 34 assists, 26 steals
#5 Northwestern: 17 points
The Eagles received 17 points to rank fifth.
Head coach: Aaron Kahl | 16th season |
Top Returners
Brenna Vogel, So., G | 2.6 PPG, 2.0 rpg
Karley Loven, So., G | Redshirted
Reese Schmidt, So., G | 3.1 PPG, 48% FG percentage, .7 rpg
#6 North Central: 10 points
Head coach: David Rohrbach | 2nd season |
Top Returners
- Brycelyn Brewster, Sr, G | UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention | UMAC All-Defensive Team | NCCAA All-Region Second-Team | 9.7 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.7 RPG |
- NiNi Davenport, Jr, G | (injured all of 24-25, stats are for 23-24)) | NCCAA All-Region Honorable Mention | 9.1 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.9 APG |
- Jackie Lindsay, Sr, G | 4.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.5 APG |
#7 Crown: 9 points
Head coach: David Pederson | 2nd Season |
Top Returners
- Brayli Reimer, Jr., G | 2024-25 UMAC Second-team All-Conference | 4th in UMAC in Points Per Game, 8th in UMAC in Rebounds Per Game, 3rd in UMAC in Assists Per Game in 2024-25| 14.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.9 APG |
- Isabelle Sager, Sr., C | 2022-23 UMAC Rookie of the Year, 2x UMAC All-Sportsmanship| 2nd in UMAC in Total Rebounds and 1st in offensive Rebounds, Most Rebounds in Crown Women’s Basketball History| 6.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 43% FGs |
- Sydney Cotten, Jr., G | 6.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.4 APG|