POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State women's basketball team was picked sixth in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Media Poll and seventh in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced Wednesday.
Media members gave the Bengals 157 points. That put Idaho State in the upper half of the 11-team league, eight points ahead of seventh-place Montana (149) and 16 points behind fifth-place Southern Utah (173). In the coaches' poll, Idaho State received 49 points, five points behind sixth-place Montana (54) and 17 ahead of eighth-place Weber State (32).
Montana State was the preseason favorite in both polls, earning nine of 11 first-place votes from the coaches and 23 of 26 from the media. Defending Big Sky champion Idaho was picked second in both polls, and Northern Colorado was third. Montana State's Taylee Chirrick, the reigning Big Sky MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, was named Preseason MVP.
The league expands to 11 women's basketball programs this season with the addition of Southern Utah and Utah Tech. Both are on the Bengals' conference slate in December, with Southern Utah on Dec. 3 and Utah Tech on Dec. 5 in Reed Gym.
Idaho State opens its season with an exhibition against College of Idaho on Friday, Oct. 23, at Reed Gym. The Bengals begin the regular season on Tuesday, November 3 at BYU in Provo, Utah. The 2027 Big Sky Basketball Championships are set for March 5-10 at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.
All Idaho State home games, except for the College of Idaho exhibition, will stream on ESPN+. Games will also air on KISU (91.1 FM), with Jason Alvine on the call.
2026-27 Big Sky Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
- Montana State (23) – 283
- Idaho (3) – 254
- Northern Colorado – 214
- Eastern Washington – 197
- Southern Utah – 173
6. Idaho State – 157
- Montana – 149
- Northern Arizona – 110
- Weber State – 70
- Portland State – 63
- Utah Tech – 46
2026-27 Big Sky Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Montana State (9) – 99
- Idaho (2) – 90
- Northern Colorado – 76
- Eastern Washington – 71
- Southern Utah – 67
- Montana – 54
7. Idaho State – 49
- Weber State – 32
- Portland State – 30
- Northern Arizona – 27
- Utah Tech – 10
( ) – Denotes first-place votes
Big Sky Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Taylee Chirrick, Montana State (Preseason MVP)
Hope Hassmann, Idaho
Kourtney Grossman, Eastern Washington
Addison Harris, Montana State
Ava Uhrich, Southern Utah
Avery Waddington, Montana
Elyn Bowers, Eastern Washington
