• OVC Men's Basketball Preseason Release
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head women’s basketball coaches and communication directors, Southern Indiana has been picked the preseason favorites for the 2024-25 season.
The Screaming Eagles earned 20 of 22 first-place votes (teams could not vote for themselves) to receive 200 total points. The defending regular season and tournament champions, along with Lindenwood, enter their third of four transitional seasons from NCAA DII to DI.
UT Martin picked up the final two first-place votes for second (receiving 180 points) while Eastern Illinois garnered 145 points for third. Tennessee Tech was tabbed fourth (140 points) and are followed by Little Rock (135), Western Illinois (119), and Lindenwood (81). SIUE (61) and Morehead State (61) tied for eighth while Tennessee State (59) and Southeast Missouri (29) round out the selections.
The League once again includes 11 teams. This year those teams will play a 20-game Conference schedule, up from 18 games a season ago.
The season will conclude with the 2025 OVC Basketball Championships presented by United Fidelity Bank (March 5-8), which will be held at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana for the eighth-straight season.
2024-25 OVC Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Southern Indiana (20 first-place votes) - 200
2. UT Martin (2) - 180
3. Eastern Illinois - 145
4. Tennessee Tech - 140
5. Little Rock - 135
6. Western Illinois - 119
7. Lindenwood - 81
8. SIUE - 61
Morehead State - 61
10. Tennessee State – 59
11. Southeast Missouri - 29
2024-25 OVC Women's Basketball Players to Watch
Each team selected two "Players to Watch". All returning 2023-24 All-Conference selections made the list. Southern Indiana has three All-OVC returners.
Eastern Illinois
*
Macy McGlone, F, Sr., Greenville, Wis.
Lalani Ellis, G, So., Milwaukee, Wis.
Lindenwood
*
Ellie Brueggemann, G, So., Tulsa, Ok.
Brooke Coffey, F, So., St. Charles, Mo.
Little Rock
*
Jayla Brooks, G, Gr., Sachse, Texas
Faith Lee, F, Jr., Monroe, La.
Morehead State
*
Katie Novik, G, So., Grodno, Belarus
Aileen Marquez, G, Sr., Arden, N.C.
SIUE
KK Rodriguez, G, Sr., St. Louis, Mo.
Macy Silvey, G, Jr., Glen Carbon, Ill.
Southeast Missouri
Indiya Bowen, G, So., Horn Lake Miss.
Zoe Best, G, Fr., St. Louis, Mo.
Southern Indiana
*
Vanessa Shafford, G, Sr., Linton, Ind.
*
Meredith Raley, F, Gr., Haubstadt, Ind.
*
Madi Webb, F, Gr., Bedford, Ind.
Tennessee State
*
Sanaa' St. Andre, G, Gr., Oakdale, La.
XaiOnna Whitfield, G, Fr., Oxford, Ala.
Tennessee Tech
Reghan Grimes, G, Jr., Nashville, Tenn.
Peyton Carter, G, Gr., Abingdon, Va.
UT Martin
*
Anaya Brown, F, Jr., Lexington, Ky.
*
Kenley McCarn, G, So., Mountain View, Ark.
Western Illinois
*
Raegan McCowan, G, So., Lebanon, Mo.
Addi Brownfield, G, Jr., Boonville, Mo.
* - 2023-24 All-OVC Selections