Illinois State Picked Second In MVC Preseason Poll

ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State women's basketball team was picked second in the annual Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball preseason poll announced on Tuesday. The annual preseason poll, as voted on by Valley head coaches, communications directors and a media panel, was unveiled prior to the league's media day festivities in St. Louis on Wednesday.

Murray State, which is coming off back-to-back regular-season and tournament titles, was picked as the preseason favorite after receiving 41 of 44 possible first-place votes and 477 total points. The Redbirds were picked to finish second in the poll with 396 points, while Belmont picked up a pair of first-place votes and 375 total points to place third. Northern Iowa collected the final first-place vote and 343 points and fourth place, while Drake (317) and UIC (267) rounded out the league's preseason favorites.

The 2026-27 regular season commences on Monday, November 2, with six of The Valley's 11 teams in action including the Redbirds against Chicago State. ISU will play 12 non-conference games before opening the MVC season on December 20 against Valparaiso at CEFCU Arena in Normal.

The Redbirds return seven players from last season's squad that advanced to the WNIT Championship game, including MVC assists leader Trista Fayta and Nevaeh Thomas, who returns for her senior campaign. Illinois State tallied a 24-14 record and advanced to the WNIT Championship game, earning a postseason bid for the sixth consecutive season and a 20-win campaign for the fourth straight year. 

The returners will be joined by eight newcomers, including transfers Chloe Spreen (Indiana), Hannah Chicken (Portland State), Ella Mason (Michigan Tech) and Jenna Van Schaik (Mercyhurst). The group also includes four prep standouts Danyella Mporokoso, Kennedy Stowers, Madison Young and Austria native Christina Köppel. Mporokoso highlights the group, coming to ISU after being named the 2025-26 Gatorade Illinois Girls Basketball Player of the Year and a four-star recruit.

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