POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State women's basketball has been picked to finish 4th and 5th in the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches and media polls as announced by the league offices Wednesday morning.
The Bengals return nearly their entire core from last year's roster that finished 14-17 overall and 8-10 in Big Sky play, highlighted by veterans Tasia Jordan (10.9 ppg), Piper Carlson (9.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg), and Sophia Covello (9.4 ppg, 2.5 apg). Under head coach Seton Sobolewski, now entering his 18th season at the helm, Idaho State looks to climb back into the top tier of the conference after reaching the Big Sky Semifinals in Boise last March.
Montana State, fresh off a 30-win season and both Big Sky titles, was selected as the preseason favorite in both polls, followed by Montana and Idaho. The Bengals were one of only four programs to receive a first-place vote in the coaches' poll, signaling league-wide confidence in the team's potential to contend this season.
2025–26 Big Sky Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
( ) – Denotes First-Place Votes
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Montana State (5) – 74
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Montana (3) – 72
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Idaho (1) – 65
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Idaho State (1) – 57
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Sacramento State – 50
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Eastern Washington – 38
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Northern Colorado – 36
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Weber State – 28
T9. Northern Arizona – 15
T9. Portland State – 15
2025–26 Big Sky Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
( ) – Denotes First-Place Votes
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Montana State (11) – 238
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Montana (7) – 224
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Idaho (7) – 220
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Sacramento State (2) – 177
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Idaho State – 161
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Eastern Washington – 123
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Weber State – 120
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Northern Arizona – 102
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Northern Colorado – 86
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Portland State – 34
Idaho State opens its 2025–26 campaign with an exhibition against Park University (AZ) on Nov. 1, followed by its official home opener versus Westminster on Nov. 4 at Reed Gym. The Bengals then travel to Grand Canyon (Nov. 8) before returning home for matchups with UC Irvine (Nov. 12) and South Dakota (Nov. 16).
The nonconference slate also features neutral-site games against Portland and Loyola Marymount in the Bank of Hawai'i Classic (Nov. 21–23), along with road tests at BYU, Cal Poly, and Utah Valley. Big Sky play begins Jan. 1 at Sacramento State, with the Bengals' conference home opener set for Jan. 8 against Northern Colorado.
The 2026 Big Sky Basketball Championships take place March 7–11 in Boise, Idaho, at Idaho Central Arena.
