SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Furman Paladins were selected as the preseason favorites to win the SoCon women's basketball title for the 2026-27 season, according to a vote of the league's head coaches. The coaches also selected a 10-member preseason all-conference team.
Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams or student-athletes as part of the balloting.
Wofford sophomore guard Gabby Mundy was voted the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year. The Liberty Hill, Texas, native started all 29 games for Wofford in her debut season. Mundy averaged 15.0 points and 3.6 assists per game, ranking third and fourth in the league, respectively, in those categories on her way to earning SoCon Freshman of the Year honors last season.
Furman collected three of the eight possible first-place votes, while Wofford and defending tournament champion Samford earned two apiece. ETSU and Chattanooga each received one first-place vote. ETSU, Wofford, and Chattanooga each held a share of the 2025-26 regular season title.
The 2026-27 preseason all-conference team features several standout performers from last season, including Mundy, Francie Morris (Samford), Clare Coyle (Furman), Alyssa Ervin (Furman) and Kaylee Yarbrough (Samford).
National statistical leaders Briana Rivera (Samford) and Maddie Heiss (Wofford) also earned preseason all-conference recognition after ranking first in three-point field goals made per game and third in free-throw percentage, respectively.
They are joined on the preseason team by ETSU's Daniela Lopez and Carmen Richardson, both of whom earned All-Tournament Team honors last season.
Rounding out the preseason team is LaReesha Cawthorn of Tennessee Tech, who, along with her teammates, will embark on her first season of SoCon competition after the Golden Eagles officially joined the league on July 1.
The 2026-27 season will tip off on Monday, Nov. 2, with eight teams in action. ETSU will open its season on Nov. 3. Conference play begins Tuesday, Dec. 29. The 2027 Ingles Southern Conference Championship will be held March 3-7 at Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina.
2026-27 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Total
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Furman (3) 56
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Wofford (2) 54
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Samford (2) 50
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ETSU (1) 44
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Chattanooga (1) 40
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Tennessee Tech 28
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Mercer 27
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UNCG 17
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Western Carolina 8
2026-27 Preseason Southern Conference Player of the Year
Gabby Mundy, So., G, Wofford
2026-27 Preseason All-SoCon Team
Daniela López, Sr., G, ETSU
Carmen Richardson, Jr., G, ETSU
Clare Coyle, Jr., F, Furman
Alyssa Ervin, Jr., G, Furman
Francie Morris, So., G, Samford
Briana Rivera, Jr., G, Samford
Kaylee Yarbrough, So., G, Samford
LaReesha Cawthorn, So., F, Tennessee Tech
Maddie Heiss, Sr., G, Wofford
Gabby Mundy, So., G, Wofford