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 2026-27 season.
 
The Screaming Eagles earned 13 of 18 first-place votes (teams could not vote for themselves) to receive 122 total points. SIUE was picked second as they claimed four first-place votes and 113 points.

Western Illinois picked up the final first-place vote for third (receiving 85 points) while UT Martin garnered 78 points for fourth. Lindenwood was tabbed fifth (68 points) and are followed by Southeast Missouri (62), Eastern Illinois (50), Morehead State (41) and Tennessee State (29).

USI finished 21-11, 14-6 in OVC play, last year and enter the 2026-27 season behind returning All-OVC selection Chloe Gannon (13.3 ppg). The senior will be joined by OVC Watch List members Sophia Loden (9.8 ppg) and South Alabama transfer Tamara Ortiz.

SIUE returns a pair of All-OVC selections, sophomores Kiyoko Proctor (13.4 ppg) and Lauren Miller (12.5). The duo will be joined by Watch List members Ava Gugliuzza and Adriana Blazquez.

The season will conclude with the 2027 OVC Basketball Championships presented by United Fidelity Bank (March 3-6), which will be held at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana for the 10th-straight season. The Championship will be held at the venue through at least 2032.