LILBURN, Ga. – The Gannon women's basketball team is ranked fifth in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association preseason poll. The WBCA released its initial national rankings on Tuesday.

The Golden Knights enter the 2025-26 season in search of a third straight trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. A year ago Gannon defeated Indiana (Pa.) to claim the Atlantic Regional championship. The Golden Knights lost to eventual national champion Grand Valley State in the quarterfinals. They finished with a 28-7 final record and were ranked 11th in the final WBCA poll.

Grand Valley State (38-2) was voted the preseason favorite by the WBCA. Union (Tenn.) is second with Texas Woman's third and North Georgia fourth.

Three of the top five teams in the preseason poll will be appearing at the Highmark Events Center as Gannon hosts the D2 CCA Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 7-9. The Golden Knights open the season against Union (33-4) on Friday and play North Georgia (31-3) on Sunday.

Head coach Cleve Wright welcomes back all five starters as he enters his 18th season at the helm of the Golden Knights. Two-time All-PSAC West first team selection Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) leads the way. The senior guard averaged a team-high 15.1 ppg. and also paced the team in assists (65) while making 62-of-159 3-pointers. The 2022-23 PSAC West Freshman of the Year enters the season ranked 14th in career scoring with 1,293 points.

Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) was a second team All-PSAC West honoree and was named the MVP of the Atlantic Regional. A junior forward, she averaged 14.1 ppg. and 5.1 rpg. while leading the team with 60 steals and 37 blocked shots.