ALLENDALE, MICH. – The Grand Valley State women's basketball team was selected to finish first in the GLIAC preseason coaches' poll, as announced by the league office earlier this afternoon. The reigning five-time conference champions will look to pick up a sixth straight title this winter.
Coming off back-to-back National Championships, GVSU earned all 10 of the opposing team votes to take the top spot with a perfect 100 points. In second was Northern Michigan with 84 points, followed by Parkside in third with 76 points, including one first-place vote. Ferris State was one point back of them in fourth, while Wayne State was voted fifth, garnering 68 points. Roosevelt (53), Michigan Tech (49), Davenport (31), LSSU (29), SVSU (24), and Purdue Northwest (16) rounded out the poll.
Last year, GVSU went 36-1 overall and 19-1 in GLIAC play. The Lakers swept the conference regular season and tournament titles for the fourth straight season. In the NCAA Tournament, GVSU defeated Northwood to win the Midwest Regional, before taking down Carson-Newman, Alabama-Huntsville, and IUP to win their second consecutive National Championship. The Lakers led the country in scoring margin at +27.8, while ranking in the top 10 in seven other categories.
Four starters graduated from last season's team, but plenty of talent remains in Allendale for head coach
Mike Williams. The lone returning starter is All-American junior
MacKenzie Bisballe, who averaged over 14 points and six rebounds a game. After serving as key members off the bench,
Ava Scanlon,
Anayya Davis, and
Avery Lay will all play bigger roles this season.
There are no seniors on this year's team, with 10 of the 19 players being either true freshman or redshirt freshman. One transfer joins the roster, as part of an eight-person recruiting class.
2026-27 GLIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
| 1 |
Grand Valley State |
100 (10) |
| 2 |
Northern Michigan |
84 |
| 3 |
Parkside |
|
76 (1) |
| 4 |
Ferris State |
|
75 |
| 5 |
Wayne State |
|
68 |
| 6 |
Roosevelt |
|
53 |
| 7 |
Michigan Tech |
49 |
| 8 |
Davenport |
|
31 |
| 9 |
Lake Superior State |
29 |
| 10 |
Saginaw Valley State |
24 |
| 11 |
Purdue Northwest |
16 |
