BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Reigning tournament champion Southern was picked to finish first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball preseason poll released Tuesday at the league’s media day.
The Lady Jaguars collected 234 points and 10 first-place votes in balloting by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors, holding off reigning regular-season champion Alabama A&M by five points.
Alabama A&M was picked second with 229 points and eight first-place votes, setting up what voters expect to be a two-team race at the top of the league.
Alabama State was picked third with 195 points, followed by Alcorn State in fourth with 183. Arkansas-Pine Bluff was projected fifth with 169 points and three first-place votes, and Grambling State rounded out the top six with 162 points and one first-place vote.
Florida A&M and Jackson State finished tied in the voting with 128 points each and were slotted seventh and eighth, respectively. Bethune-Cookman (97), Texas Southern (94), Mississippi Valley State (65), and Prairie View A&M (31) were picked to finish ninth through 12th.
2026-27 SWAC Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
(First-place votes in parentheses)
- Southern, 234 (10)
- Alabama A&M, 229 (8)
- Alabama State, 195
- Alcorn State, 183
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 169 (3)
- Grambling State, 162 (1)
- Florida A&M, 128
- Jackson State, 128
- Bethune-Cookman, 97
- Texas Southern, 94
- Mississippi Valley State, 65
- Prairie View A&M, 31
