SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Gonzaga has been voted the preseason West Coast Conference favorite by the league's 11 head coaches, the conference office announced Wednesday.
The Bulldogs collected the most first-place votes with five and totaled 92 points – one point ahead of Washington State (91 points). Portland, Oregon State, and the Cougars each had two first-place votes.
Portland finished third in the coaches’ poll behind WSU with 84 points, followed by Oregon State (77 points) and Pacific (63 points) in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Yvonne Ejim of Gonzaga and Eleonora Villa of Washington State were unanimous selections for the 2024-25 All-WCC Women’s Basketball Preseason Team. Ejim and Villa are joined on the preseason All-Conference Team by Gonzaga’s Maud Huijbens, Oregon State's AJ Marotte, Pacific's Anaya James, Portland's Maisie Burnham and Emme Shearer, San Francisco's Debora dos Santos, Santa Clara's Olivia Pollerd, and Washington State's Tara Wallack.
Six of the 10 players recognized were all-conference selections a season ago, including five who earned first team honors in Ejim, James, Shearer, dos Santos, and Pollerd.
All major award winners from last season return for the upcoming 2024-25 season – Player and Defensive Player of the Year Yvonne Ejim from Gonzaga, Coach of the Year Lisa Fortier from Gonzaga, Newcomer of the Year Freja Werth from San Francisco, Sixth Woman of the Year Maud Huijbens from Gonzaga, and Freshman of the Year Zeryhia Aokuso from Saint Mary's. In addition, 11 all-conference honorees from 2023-24 return, including five first team selections.
West Coast Conference women's basketball is coming off its fifth consecutive multi-bid season with two teams in the NCAA Tournament a season ago. Gonzaga hosted first and second rounds as a four seed last year. Portland made its second tournament appearance and entered the tournament as a No. 13 seed. The Bulldogs advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second time under head coach Lisa Fortier and fifth time in program history, while the Pilots lost in the first round. The WCC has been a multi-bid league in the NCAA Tournament every year it's been held since 2019.
2024-25 WCC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
| Place |
Team |
First Place |
Points |
| 1. |
Gonzaga |
5 |
92 |
| 2. |
Washington State |
2 |
91 |
| 3. |
Portland |
2 |
84 |
| 4. |
Oregon State |
2 |
77 |
| 5. |
Pacific |
|
63 |
| 6. |
San Francisco |
|
53 |
| 7. |
Santa Clara |
|
43 |
| 8. |
Saint Mary's |
|
39 |
| 9. |
San Diego |
|
28 |
| 10. |
LMU |
|
20 |
| 11. |
Pepperdine |
|
15 |
| 2024-25 All-WCC Women’s Basketball Preseason Team |
| Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
| Maisie Burnham |
Sr. |
G |
Portland |
| Debora dos Santos |
R-Sr. |
F |
San Francisco |
| Yvonne Ejim |
5th |
F |
Gonzaga |
| Maud Huijbens |
Gr. |
F |
Gonzaga |
| Anaya James |
Sr. |
G |
Pacific |
| AJ Marotte |
Sr. |
G |
Oregon State |
| Olivia Pollerd |
Sr. |
F |
Santa Clara |
| Emme Shearer |
Gr. |
G |
Portland |
| Eleonora Villa |
So. |
G |
Washington State |
| Tara Wallack |
Sr. |
G |
Washington State |