WPU Picked 14th in Heart Preseason Poll

Oskaloosa–The Statesmen women’s basketball team will look to prove the naysayers wrong as the 2025-2026 Heart of America Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll was announced Wednesday, presented by WinWon Technologies.

WPU, which was 4-24 last year (3-21 Heart), is expected to finish 14th in the 15-team league with 40 points.

MidAmerica Nazarene tops the poll with 225 points and all 15 first-place votes. Grand View also hit the 200-point mark (200) to take the runner-up spot, while Benedictine holds the bronze position with 189 points. Missouri Valley is also in the mix with 178 points for fourth, while Culver-Stockton is fifth with 139 points.

The 6-10 positions are held by Clarke (134), Mount Mercy (129), Park (125), Central Methodist (121), and Baker (104), while Graceland (72, 11th), Peru State (58, 12th), and Missouri Baptist (54, 13th) are also ahead of the navy and gold. William Woods’ 32 points put it in 15th overall.

William Penn begins its season Thursday in Pella against Central at 7 p.m.

2025-2026 Heart Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. MidAmerica Nazarene–225 (15)
2. Grand View–200
3. Benedictine–189
4. Missouri Valley–178
5. Culver-Stockton–139
6. Clarke–134
7. Mount Mercy–129
8. Park–125
9. Central Methodist–121
10. Baker–104
11. Graceland–72
12. Peru State—58
13. Missouri Baptist–54
14. William Penn–40
15. William Woods–32