LSC Hoops Week
Texas Woman’s is predicted to win its fourth consecutive Lone Star Conference women’s basketball regular season title according to the 2025-26 preseason poll, it was announced on Monday (Oct. 20). West Texas A&M senior guard Kyla Kane claimed the preseason player of the year honors.
The preseason poll and preseason player of the year are voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
TWU totaled 810 points and collected 20 of the possible 51 first-place votes to be the favorite. Head coach Beth Jillson’s Pioneers went 33-2 overall and 21-1 in league play last season en route to the conference title. TWU also won its second straight and third overall LSC tournament (also 2011). The Pioneers, who won 27 consecutive games during the season, hosted the NCAA Division II South Central Regional and advanced to the final. They finished ranked No. 6 in the nation.
Lubbock Christian is picked as the conference runner-up with 776 points and 14 first-place votes. Head coach Steve Gomez’s Lady Chaps went 32-5 overall and 21-1 in LSC play last season to share the league title and was runner-up at the LSC tournament. LCU, which has won three of the last six conference crowns and three national titles since 2016, won the South Regional title and advanced to the national quarterfinals. The Lady Chaps finished No. 7 in the nation.
UT Tyler is predicted to finish in third place with 761 points and eight first-place votes. The Patriots went 25-5 overall and 20-2 in league play last season and earned a berth in the South Central Regional. They finished the year ranked No. 14 in the country.
West Texas A&M, which has won a record 18 LSC titles, is the fourth-place pick with 663 points and six first-place votes. The Lady Buffs went 19-13 overall and 12-10 in LSC play in 2024-25 and advanced to South Central Regional semifinals.
Two-time LSC champion Eastern New Mexico is predicted for a fifth-place finish with 657 points and two first-place votes. The Greyhounds reached the South Central Regional semifinals last season. Seven-time conference champion Angelo State is the sixth-place pick with 656 points. Texas A&M-Kingsville, which won the league title in 2000, collected 564 points to be in seventh place and UT Permian Basin (466 points) rounded out what would be the potential eight teams to qualify for the LSC tournament.
Midwestern State is picked to finish in ninth place with 461 points and St. Mary’s (438 points) completes the top 10.
St. Edward’s (363 points) is picked in the No. 11 spot, followed by Oklahoma Christian (310 points), Cameron (262 points), Texas A&M International (210 points), new league member UT Dallas (168 points), Western New Mexico (161 points) and Sul Ross State (77 points). TAMIU picked up the final first-place vote.
Kane, who is a 5-foot-10 native of Wellington, Texas, averaged 13.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. She shot 89.8 percent from the free throw line and made 56 3-pointers. She was a second team all-LSC selection.
Additionally, 16 players – including Kane – were selected for the LSC Women’s Basketball Preseason Players to Watch list. The student-athletes were nominated by their member institution.
Notes:
- The LSC women’s basketball season begins as early as Nov. 31. To see the league schedule, click here.
- LSC Hoops Week is Oct. 20-24. Watch interviews from all 17 women’s basketball teams and the preseason player of the year on the conference’s YouTube page.
- The LSC women’s basketball tournament is scheduled for March 6-8 at Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. Tickets will go on sale in February.
- All LSC women’s basketball games can be viewed live on FloCollege. Monthly and yearly subscriptions are available.
2025-26 LSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL, PLAYER OF THE YEAR, PLAYERS TO WATCH
Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team |
1st |
Total |
| 1 |
Texas Woman’s |
20 |
810 |
| 2 |
Lubbock Christian |
14 |
776 |
| 3 |
UT Tyler |
8 |
761 |
| 4 |
West Texas A&M |
6 |
663 |
| 5 |
Eastern New Mexico |
2 |
657 |
| 6 |
Angelo State |
|
656 |
| 7 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
|
564 |
| 8 |
UT Permian Basin |
|
466 |
| 9 |
Midwestern State |
|
461 |
| 10 |
St. Mary’s |
|
438 |
| 11 |
St. Edward’s |
|
363 |
| 12 |
Oklahoma Christian |
|
310 |
| 13 |
Cameron |
|
262 |
| 14 |
Texas A&M International |
1 |
210 |
| 15 |
UT Dallas |
|
168 |
| 16 |
Western New Mexico |
|
161 |
| 17 |
Sul Ross State |
|
77 |
Preseason Player of the Year
Kyla Kane, G, Sr., West Texas A&M
Players to Watch
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Keniah Williams |
Angelo State |
C |
Sr. |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Madison Griggs |
Cameron |
F |
So. |
Criminal Justice |
Mansfield, Texas |
| Nataya Lockett |
Eastern New Mexico |
G |
Sr. |
Marketing |
Omaha, Neb. |
| Kennedy Chappell |
Lubbock Christian |
G |
Jr. |
Animal Science/Pre Vet |
Heath, Texas |
| Kerbie Cash |
Midwestern State |
F |
So. |
Early Childhood Edu. |
Wylie, Texas |
| Taylor Jackson |
Oklahoma Christian |
F |
Sr. |
Marriage & Family Therapy |
McKinney, Texas |
| Christin Callens |
St. Mary's |
F |
So. |
Biochemistry |
Houston, Texas |
| Victoria Aguayo |
Sul Ross State |
G |
Sr. |
Biology |
El Paso, Texas |
| Deannasty Smith |
Texas A&M International |
F |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Kaycee Groves |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
G/F |
Jr. |
Biomedical Sciences |
Faith, S.D. |
| Averee Kleinhans |
Texas Woman’s |
G |
Sr. |
Dietetics |
Nocona, Texas |
| Umi Otsuka |
UT Dallas |
G |
Jr. |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
Tokyo, Japan |
| Kenadi Rising |
UT Permian Basin |
G |
Gr. |
Kinesiology |
Rapid City, S.D. |
| Polina Latysheva |
UT Tyler |
G |
Jr. |
Management |
Moscow, Russia |
| Kyla Kane |
West Texas A&M |
G |
Sr. |
Sports & Ex. Science |
Wellington, Texas |
| Natalie Magallanes |
Western New Mexico |
G |
So. |
Kinesiology |
Midland, Texas |
