SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Gonzaga stands atop the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll in the annual poll of the WCC’s nine head coaches. The Bulldogs collected all eight first-place votes possible along with 64 points.
The Bulldogs' head coach Lisa Fortier brings back multiple key returners from last year's regular season champion squad, including the Truong sisters, Kayleigh and Kaylynne, both preseason team honorees, as well as fellow preseason team honorees and Yvonne Ejim and Brynna Maxwell. Last season, the Bulldogs fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to eventual Sweet Sixteen participant Ole Miss.
Portland picked up the other first-place vote, along with 50 points, to take second in the preseason coaches poll. The defending University Credit Union WCC Women's Basketball Tournament champions look to build on last year's success returning All-Tournament selection Maisie Burnham and fellow preseason team honoree Emme Shearer.
Pacific and Santa Clara came in third in the poll with 41 points each. Head coach Bradley Davis has All-WCC First Team honoree Liz Smith back this season while Bill Carr has former Newcomer of the Year and the league's top returning scorer Tess Heal back.
San Diego came in fifth in the preseason poll with 40 points, just one point shy of third place. The Toreros earned a bid into the WNIT last season and advanced to the Super 16. USD will look veterans Kasey Neubert and Kylie Hortsmeyer to help the Toreros get back in the postseason.
The sixth-place team in the preseason poll was Saint Mary's garnering 34 points. First-year head coach Jeff Cammon gets Ali Bamberger back. She was named to the All-WCC Preseason Team after earning first team all-league honors last season.
Six of the preseason team honorees were named to the All-WCC First Team last season - Bamberger, Ejim, Heal, Maxwell, Smith, and Kaylynne Truong. The preseason team also features one All-WCC Second Team student-athlete - Burnham. The preseason team also features four players who were named to last year's preseason team - Bamberger, Ejim, Kaleigh Truong and Kaylynne Truong.
2023-24 WCC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
| Place |
Team |
First Place |
Points |
| 1. |
Gonzaga |
8 |
64 |
| 2. |
Portland |
1 |
50 |
| 3. |
Pacific |
|
41 |
|
Santa Clara |
|
41 |
| 5. |
San Diego |
|
40 |
| 6. |
Saint Mary's |
|
34 |
| 7. |
San Francisco |
|
31 |
| 8. |
Pepperdine |
|
12 |
| 9. |
LMU |
|
11 |
| 2023-24 All-WCC Women’s Basketball Preseason Team |
| Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
| Ali Bamberger |
Sr. |
F |
Saint Mary's |
| Maisie Burnham |
Sr. |
F |
Portland |
| Yvonne Ejim |
Sr. |
F |
Gonzaga |
| Jasmine Gayles |
Sr. |
G |
San Francisco |
| Tess Heal |
So. |
G |
Santa Clara |
| Brynna Maxwell |
Sr. |
G |
Gonzaga |
| Emme Shearer |
Sr. |
G |
Portland |
| Liz Smith |
Sr. |
G |
Pacific |
| Kayleigh Truong |
Sr. |
G |
Gonzaga |
| Kaylynne Truong |
Sr. |
G |
Gonzaga |