ARLINGTON, Texas – The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced the Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll and Preseason All-WAC Team on Wednesday morning. Utah Valley was selected fourth by the coaches, with redshirt senior
Amanda Barcello earning a spot on the five-player Preseason All-WAC team.
"I'm really happy for Amanda that all her hard work is being recognized by the other coaches in our league," said UVU head coach
Dan Nielson. "She's become one of the best shooters in the country and will be a huge key to our success this season. I can't wait to see what she does this season!"
Barcello enters her final campaign with the Wolverines after averaging a career-best 8.7 PPG a season ago, known as an outside threat from deep, finishing the season 55-for-119 (.462) from behind the arc. Her season-high was 24 points against Abilene Christian in the WAC Tournament to help the Wolverines advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament. She added 22 points last February in the Old Hammer Rivalry, making seven field goals and going for six-for-six on 3-pointers.
In the classroom, she is a two-time Academic All-WAC selection after starting her career over at Brigham Young University where she earned West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team honors.
The coaches picked Abilene Christian to win the league, who beat out second-place California Baptist by one vote, but the Lancers earned the most first-place votes with four. UT Arlington was picked third with one first-place vote. After UVU, the poll went Tarleton State, Utah Tech, and Southern Utah.
Abilene Christian junior guard Payton Hull was picked as Preseason Player of the Year and was joined by Meredith Mayes (ACU), Khloe Lemon (CBU), Jakoriah Long (Tarleton State), and Barcello to round out the five-member team.
2025-2026 WAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Abilene Christian (2) 32
- California Baptist (4) 31
- UT Arlington (1) 25
- Utah Valley 23
- Tarleton State 18
- Utah Tech 12
- Southern Utah 6
2025-26 WAC Preseason Player of the Year:
Payton Hull, Jr., G, Abilene Christian
2025-26 Preseason All-WAC Team:
Payton Hull, Jr., G, Abilene Christian
Meredith Mayes, Jr., C, Abilene Christian
Khloe Lemon, Jr., G, California Baptist
Jakoriah Long, Sr., G, Tarleton State
Amanda Barcello, R-Sr., G/F, Utah Valley
