The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced the results of its preseason women's basketball poll for the 2026-27 season today, Wednesday, Oct. 22.
The rankings were determined by a vote of the league coaches.
Two-time defending national champion Grand Valley State (100 points) was selected by the conference coaches as the prohibitive favorite to capture the 2027 crown, receiving 10 first-place votes.
On the heels of an impressive 36-1 season, including a 19-1 mark in conference play, the Lakers will lean heavily on junior forwards MacKenzie Bisballe (14.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and Ava Scanlon (8.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg) in pursuit of a third-consecutive national title.
Northern Michigan (84 points) was chosen second for the second-straight preseason. The Wildcats, who posted a 25-8 record in 2025-26, will be fronted by returning junior guard Sydney Whitehouse (9.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg), the GLIAC Sixth Woman of the Year from last season.
Parkside (76) was tabbed third, receiving one first-place vote. The Rangers welcome back its top two scorers in senior Cassidy Arni and junior Katie Hamill, who each averaged 13.5 points per game.
Just one point back, in the fourth position, is Ferris State (75). The Bulldogs won 26 games in 2025-26 but lost reigning GLIAC Player of the Year, Kadyn Blanchard, to graduation. FSU replenished its ranks with standout transfers from Saginaw Valley State, Megan McCalla, a Second Team All-GLIAC selection, and Kaitlyn Geurink, last season's GLIAC Freshman of the Year.
Wayne State, winners of 24 games, including 17 in GLIAC play, and the only team to claim victory over Grand Valley State in 2025-26, was selected fifth with 68 points. Led by the 2026 GLIAC Coach of the Year, Carrie Lohr, the Warriors get back senior guard McKenna Ferguson, the team's returning leader in scoring (16.5 ppg) and steals (91).
Polling in sixth place was Roosevelt (53 points). Center Isabella Pitta will be key to the Lakers' fortunes in 2026-27, coming off a year in which she averaged 10.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
Just four points behind RU, ranking seventh in the preseason poll, is Michigan Tech (49 points). Guards Alyssa Wypych (11.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and Soraya Timms (10.3 ppg, 115 assists) will headline the Huskies' line-up in 2026-27.
Davenport finished eighth (31 points) followed closely by Lake Superior State (9th, 29 points).
Saginaw Valley State (10th, 24 points) and Purdue Northwest (11th, 16 points) rounded out the preseason poll.
Grand Valley State and Northern Michigan open the 2026-27 campaign at the Midwest Tip-Off Challenge on Friday, Oct. 30 while Lake Superior State meets Truman State in Kirksville, Mo.
