This is the final year of the Mountain West Conference as we’ve come to know it.
After the 2025-26 school year, San Diego State, Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado and Utah State will leave to form one half of the new Pac-12 Conference. In women’s basketball, that means a loaded San Diego State team will have a chance to repeat after winning last season’s Mountain West Conference Tournament.
But there are plenty of potential road blocks in the way. UNLV is a tradition conference power and Colorado State, Boise State, New Mexico and Wyoming all have enough to talent to make a run at the conference title.
Here’s a season preview and rankings for the 2025-26 women’s basketball season:
1. UNLV
Double-digit scorers Aaliyah Alexander (10.6 points per game last season) and Meadow Roland (10.2 points a game last season) return. The Rebels gained a big addition when Desinty Leo, last season’s Horizon League Player of the Year, transferred in from Cleveland State. UNLV also added impact transfers Shelbee Brown (Akron) and Destiny Brown (Alcorn State).
2. SAN DIEGO STATE
Sophomore guard Naomi Panganiban (9.3 points per game) is the top returning scorer. But she’ll have plenty of help with the addition of three transfers in Nala Williams, who was the Division II Player of the Year last season at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Sofia Kelemni (San Jose State) and Carrie Latta (Utah State).
3. COLORADO STATE
The Rams lost their two leading scorers from last season in Emma Ronsiek and Hannah Simental. But Hannah Ronsiek (Emma’s sister) returns and will take on a bigger role after averaging 9.1 points a game. Colorado also returns two members of last years MWC All-Freshmen team in Kloe Froebe and Brooke Carlson. The Rams also picked up transfers Lexus Bargesser (Indiana), Lexi Deden (Montana State) and Madelyn Bragg (Northern State).
4. BOISE STATE
Two key players – Abby Muse and Elodie Lalotte from last year’s 18-15 team left to play professionally in Europe. But leading scorer Tatum Thompson returns after averaging 13.2 points and earning All-MWC last season. Guards Natalie and Pasco an Dani Bayes also return. The biggest addition of the offseason was Emily Howard, a 6-foot-5 center, who played at Liberty last season.
5. NEW MEXICO
Junior guard Destinee Hooks and graduate guard Alyssa Hargrove return to fill a roster that otherwise is filled with international players. Guard Joana Magalhaes, a guard from Portugal< was a member of the MWC All-Freshman team last season and she’s now joined by countrywoman Leonor Peixinho. Mozambigue native Jessie Joaquim and Emma Najjuma, a 6-4 center from Uganda, also are expected to play key roles.
6. WYOMING
The Cowboys will be without last season’s MWC Player of the Year Allyson Fertig, who will be playing professionally in Germany. Senior guard Malene Pederson, who averaged 14 points a game last season, is the top returner. Wyoming will look to two freshman — 6-foot-4 center Liv Blmkvist from Sweden and 6-2 forward Peyton Wohlford — to provide frontcourt help. The Cowgirls also added transfers Aurore Eyango (St. Bonaventure) and Henna Sandvik (Indiana).
7. GRAND CANYON
Grand Canyon moves into the Mountain West Conference after going undefeated in the WAC last season. New coach Winston Gandy takes over a team that lost most of its scoring punch from last year. The top returner is guard Ale’jah Douglas, but Gandy will build primarily around transfers from Power Five schools. That group includes Julianna Lamendola (Indiana), Casey Valenti-Paea (Virginia), Karley Johnson (Arkansas) Chloe Mann (Cincinnati), Faith Carson (Ohio State) and Favor Ayodele (Tennessee).
8. AIR FORCE
Air Force had its second-ever winning season last season and will try to build on it. Senior Milahnie Perry (15.7 points per game last season) and Keelie O’Hollaren (9.6 points) are the top returners. Coach Stacy McIntyre also is counting on big things from a five-player freshman class that’s led by guard AJ Mannering, who led Colorado high schools with 32.3 points a game last season.
9. FRESNO STATE
Ryan McCarthy, who spent the last 13 seasons at Division II Alaska-Anchorage, takes over as coach and he brought with him five players that were with him last season — Jasia Gamble, Emilia Long, Kenzie Sirowich, Ashlyn Rean and Hedda Koehn. The Bulldogs also brought in a strong group of Division I transfers, highlighted by Morelia Chavez (Florida State) and Djessira Diawara (San Jose State).
10. NEVADA
Junior guard Izzy Sullivan (nine points a game last season) is the top returners and coach Amanda Levens brought in a slew of transfers. That group is led by Cheyenne McEvans (13.4 points per game at Florida State last season) and Chloe Williams (12.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game at Indiana State).
11. UTAH STATE
The Aggies lost their four top scorers from last season’s 4-27 season Coach Wesley Brooks will look to guild around transfers Marina Asensio (Western Michigan and Rachel Wilson (Wheeling University). Another intriguing transfer is Aaliyah Gayles, a former McDonald’s All-American, who spent three years on the bench at USC.
12. SAN JOSE STATE
First-time head coach Jonas Chatterton takes over a team that went 10-22 last season and lost three starters. Senior guard Amira Brown and junior guard Rylei Waugh are the tp returners. San Jose State also added Loyola Marymount transfer Amelie Sitterud.
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