Oklahoma City – After advancing to the Sooner Athletic Conference Women's Basketball semifinal and the NAIA National Tournament last season, Wayland Baptist will begin the season as the top-ranked team in the 2024-25 SAC Preseason Poll as voted on by the league's coaches.
The Flying Queens garnered 142 points and received 10 first-place votes as they finished last season with an overall record of 23-9. Wayland fell in the conference semifinal to Langston 71-61 before winning their opening-round contest in the national tournament by defeating Columbia College 66-62. The Flying Queens ended their season with an 80-62 loss to Concordia (Neb.) in the second round.
Mid-America Christian earned the second slot in the preseason poll with 127 points and one first-place nod after finishing last season with an overall record of 22-9. The Evangels fell in the conference semifinal to eventual conference champion John Brown 71-63 before dropping their opening round match-up in the national tournament to Briar Cliff 81-67.
Langston grabbed the third spot in the poll with 120 points as they also garnered a first-place vote after completing the 2024 campaign with an overall record of 24-8. The Lions fell in the league championship game to John brown 53-42 and then ended their season with a first-round loss to Spring Arbor 81-78 in the national tournament.
Conference newcomer College of the Ozarks rounds out the top four as the Bobcats received 108 points as they also garnered a first-place ballot. The Bobcats finished last season with an overall record of 25-7 and advanced to the national tournament after a two-year hiatus from the NAIA.
Here is the complete 2024 SAC Women's Basketball Coaches Poll:
- Wayland Baptist 142 (10)
- Mid-America Christian 127 (1)
- Langston 120 (1)
- College of the Ozarks 108 (1)
- Texas Wesleyan 98
- Nelson 83
- John Brown 80
- Southwestern Christian 65
- Oklahoma City 64
- Science & Arts 52
- North Texas-Dallas 34
- Panhandle State 23
- Central Christian 18