Murray State won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title and the conference tournament last season. With three starters returning, a repeat is not out of the question.
But it’s not going to be easy. Murray State graduated one of the best players in conference history in Katelyn Young. She left as the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in Murray State history and now is part of the coaching staff for the Pacers.
With Young gone, the door is open for another team to emerge on top of the conference and Belmont, Illinois State and Drake are the fan favorites to jump take control of the MVC.
Here’s a preview and rankings for the 2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball season:
1. BELMONT
As he enters his ninth season at Belmont, Coach Bart Brooks has a team that was chosen as the preseason favorite in a poll of conference coaches, sports information directors and media. Belmont has a strong trio of returning starters that includes Tuti Jones, Jailyn Banks and Emily LaChapell. Banks, a junior guard, averaged 12.9 points a game while dishing out 129 assists last season. Jones averaged 10.2 points and dished out 104 assists last season. LaChapell averaged 8.5 points per game last season.
2. MURRAY STATE
With Young no longer on the roster, Coach Rechelle Turner will look to Indiana transfer Sharnecce Currie-Jelks to step immediately into a starring role in the frontcourt. The backcourt will be a strength. Returner Haven Ford is one of the conference’s top players. She averaged 14.9 points per game and set a school record by handing out 170 assists last season. Fellow guard Halli Poock averaged 16.7 points and 4.5 assists per game last season. The Racers also added guard Keslyn Secrist, a transfer from Indiana State.
3. ILLINOIS STATE
Coming off a 24-13, Coach Kristen Gillespie will look to returning forwards Addison Martin and Nevaeh Thomas for leadership. Thomas averaged 12.1 points and seven rebounds per game last season and Martin averaged 11.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists. Gillespie also is looking for big things out of guard/forward De’Shawnti Thomas, whose playing time was limited due to injuries last season. Sophomore Trista Fayta will take over as the starting point guard.
4. DRAKE
Even after the loss of two-time MVC Player of the Year Katie Dinebier, fan optimism is high in Des Moines. Senior guards Shannon Fornshell and Abbie Aalsama are the two returning starters from a team that went 22-12 and finished fourth in the conference last season. Both are expected to be more prolific scorers this season.
5. BRADLEY
With a conference-high 10 players returning, Bradley is poised to be the MVC’s most improved team. Bradley went 14-19 and finished ninth in the conference last year, but coach Kate Popovec-Goss expects fifth-year guard/forward Kaylen Nelson to move into a starring role tis season. Senior guard Soleil Barnes also is back after averaging 15.5 points per game last season.
6. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA
Coach Tanya Warren will have one of the youngest teams in the conference with a roster that includes five freshmen. But UNI does have some experience. Big things are expected from senior point guard Taryn Wharton, who will take over the starting job after the graduation of two-time All-MVC selection Maya McDermott. Senior forward Ryley Goebel, who started all 34 games last season and averaged 10.2 points, also returns.
7. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO
Coach Ashleen Bracey is excited about the arrival of transfer guard Jessica Carrothers (IU Northwest), who was the leading scorer (31.4 points per game) in all of NAIA last season. UIC also added transfer forward Amelia Strong, who averaged nine points and nine rebounds for Niagra last season. Guards Chantrel Clayton and Sara Zabrecky are the top returners.
8. VALPARAISO
First-year coach Courtney Boyd takes over a team that went 13-19 last season. With a group of returners led by senior guards Maci Rhoades and Fiona Connolly and sophomore forwards Kayla Preston, Valparaiso has a chance to move into the upper half of the conference standings.
9. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Junior guards Kayla Cooper and Tkiyah Nelson are the top returners from a team that went 4-26 last season. Alayna Kraus, who played for Oral Roberts last season, is the top transfer.
10. INDIANA STATE
Coach Mark Mitchell will have an entirely new roster and that’s not a bad thing after the Sycamores went 4-28 last season. With no freshman class, Indiana State will rely on a roster made up entirely of transfers. Guards Kennedy Claybrooks (Southeast Missouri State and Tierney Kelsey (Jackson State) head the list of transfers.
11. EVANSVILLE
After a 7-25 season and tying for last place in the conference last season, Evansville should be improved. That’s mainly because six freshman that got significant playing time last season are returning. Sophomore guards Camryn Runner and Avery Kelley are expected to take over as team leaders. Junior college transfer Mireia Mustaros (Odessa College) will step right into the starting lineup.
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