Ole Miss is ranked among the top 15 women’s basketball teams in the preseason poll released by the Associated Press.
Head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s group will enter the 2025-26 campaign sitting at No. 12 in the nation, marking the third consecutive year the team has been ranked before the opening regular season tipoff. In the SEC, the Lady Rebels landed at No. 6 in the projected order of finish in the conference.
Ohio State transfer Cotie McMahon was the lone Ole Miss player selected to the preseason All-SEC roster, earning a second-team selection. Recognized as the top forward available in the transfer portal this offseason, McMahon is a four-time All-American honorable mention and seven-time All-Conference honoree. The incoming Rebel played and started in 97 games in her three seasons with the Buckeyes, and helped lead Ohio State to an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a freshman.
Ole Miss returns three letterwinners from last year’s Sweet 16 squad, who earned at least 10 conference wins and 20 total victories for the fourth consecutive season. Sophomore Sira Thienou leads the way for the Rebel returners. Joining Coach Yo’s team are nine newcomers, including eight transfers who were recognized as the No. 2 portal class of the offseason.
The Lady Rebels will begin the regular season on Nov. 3 when Norfolk State rolls into the SJB Pavilion for an 11 a.m. CT matchup.
The full top 25 can be found below:
- UConn
- South Carolina
- UCLA
- Texas
- LSU
- Oklahoma
- Duke
- Tennessee
- North Carolina State
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- Ole Miss
- Michigan
- Iowa State
- Notre Dame
- Baylor
- TCU
- USC
- Vanderbilt
- Louisville
- Iowa
- Oklahoma State
- Michigan State
- Kentucky
- Richmond
Mississippi State did not receive any votes to appear in the rankings. The Lady Bulldogs were the preseason No. 10 squad in the SEC and did not have a player on the all-conference team. Ridgeland native Madison Booker earned recognition as the SEC’s preseason player of the year after an impressive sophomore year at Texas.
