• Preseason Releases: Men, Women | Media Day Recap
The Western Illinois women's team was picked third while the men's squad was predicted 11th in the 2025-26 OVC Preseason Poll voted on by league head coaches and communications directors.
The predictions were released as part of the OVC Basketball Media Day powered by
Centerpoint Energy, which was held on October 14.
The WIU women's team will be led by returning first-team All-OVC selection Raegan McCowan who averaged 22.3 points and 7.9 rebounds/game last season. Also back is senior forward Mia Nicastro who tallied 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds/game in an All-OVC season.
The Leathernecks men's team has a roster full of new players including junior guard Lucas Lorenzen (Dordt University) and senior forward Antwaun Massey (Southern Illinois) who were named to the OVC Players to Watch List in the preseason.
The WIU teams will look to be one of eight teams in each gender to qualify for the 2026 OVC Basketball Championships, which will be played March 4-7 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. For more information on the championship,
click here.
BELOW VIDEOS
Head Men's Coach
Chad Boudreau
Sophomore forward
Ifiok Peter
Head Women's Coach
JD Gravina
Junior guard
Raegan McCowan