EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball was selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026-27 Ohio Valley Conference Predicted Order of Finish.
 
The league's head coaches and communication directors vote on the preseason poll.
 
USI, entering its fifth season in the Ohio Valley Conference, is coming off a third-place finish in the OVC last season after going 21-11 overall and 14-6 in conference play. The Screaming Eagles went on to make their third straight appearance in the semifinals of the OVC Championship Tournament, before earning a berth in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) for a third consecutive season.
 
The nine-team OVC will play each other twice in a home-and-home split for a 16-game schedule. The conference schedule will run from December 31, 2026, through February 27, 2027. The conference's season concludes with the OVC Basketball Championship Tournament at Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, March 3-6, 2027.
 
USI Women's Basketball topped the OVC preseason poll with 122 points and eight first-place votes. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was picked second with 113 points and four first-place votes. Western Illinois University was projected third with 85 points and one first-place vote.
 
The middle three teams in the preseason poll featured the University of Tennessee at Martin in fourth with 78 points, Lindenwood University in fifth with 68 points, and Southeast Missouri State University with 62 points. Eastern Illinois University (50 points), Morehead State University (41 points), and Tennessee State University (29 points) rounded out the preseason predicted order of finish.
 
As part of the OVC's preseason announcement, senior forward Chloe Gannon was recognized as a returning All-OVC player for USI, while senior guards Sophia Loden and Tamara Ortiz represented the Screaming Eagles on the 2026-27 OVC Players to Watch List.
 
Gannon is coming off a career season as a Second-Team All-OVC selection in 2025-26. The Manchester, Tennessee, native was one of four Screaming Eagles to start all 32 games, averaging 31.3 minutes per game as a junior. Gannon was second on the team and 12^th in the OVC with 13.3 points per contest, while also ranking second on the squad and ninth in the conference with 6.8 rebounds per game. The forward shot nearly 47 percent overall last season and totaled a team-high 37 blocks, which was the most in a season by a USI player in over a decade. Gannon posted four double-doubles in 2025-26.
 
Loden also started all 32 games a season ago, averaging 28.6 minutes per game during her junior campaign. The combo guard averaged 9.8 points for third-best on the squad and paced the Screaming Eagles with 6.9 rebounds per game, which ranked eighth in the OVC. The Mascoutah, Illinois, native shot for 38 percent from the floor while totaling 40 assists and 39 steals in 2025-26. Loden was an OVC Player of the Week selection and posted seven double-doubles last season.
 
Ortiz enters her first season with the Screaming Eagles in 2026-27 after transferring in from the University of South Alabama. Last season with the Jaguars, Ortiz made seven starts in 33 appearances, averaging 9.2 points and 2.9 boards per contest. The senior guard also tallied 79 assists and 37 steals in 2025-26. Prior to South Alabama, the Columbus, Ohio, native spent two seasons at Central Michigan University, where she led the team as a freshman with 11.9 points per outing.
 
USI Women's Basketball tips off its 2026-27 season at Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles, on Monday, November 2, at 6 p.m. against Murray State University. USI begins its OVC slate on December 31, hosting Tennessee State.
 
For more information on USI Women's Basketball tickets, click here or contact the USI Ticket Office at 812-465-1189.
 
2026-27 Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league's head coaches and communication directors)
1. Southern Indiana (8 first-place votes) – 122
2. SIUE (4) – 113
3. Western Illinois (1) – 85
4. UT Martin – 78
5. Lindenwood – 68
6. Southeast Missouri – 62
7. Eastern Illinois – 50
8. Morehead State – 41
9. Tennessee State – 29
 
2026-27 Returning All-OVC Players
Lauren Miller, Kiyoko Proctor - SIUE
Chloe Gannon - Southern Indiana
 
2026-27 OVC Preseason Players to Watch List
Ava Stoller, Janyah Bohanon - Eastern Illinois
Cadence Dykstra, Violet McNece - Lindenwood
Lanae Riley, Kensley Feltner - Morehead State
Karris Allen, Carrington Jones - Southeast Missouri
Ava Gugliazza, Adriana Blazquez - SIUE
Sophia Loden, Tamara Ortiz - Southern Indiana
Addison Melton, Sherry Zheng - Tennessee State
Raven Sims, Tyler Jones - UT Martin
Kaylen Reed, Madison Davis - Western Illinois