SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Big West announced its Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll and Team Wednesday morning. The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team was picked to finish fourth.
The Gauchos look to build off the success from the 2022-23 season which saw them go 21-12 overall and 12-8 in Big West action. UC Santa Barbara finished fifth in the regular season but danced their way to The Big West Championship game.
Despite the loss of two First Team All-Big West selections, the Gauchos return eight players from a season ago highlighted by
Alyssa Marin,
Anya Choice, 2022-23 All-Freshman Team selection
Jessica Grant and forward
Alexis Whitfield. The Gauchos also bring in seven newcomers, who will all make an immediate impact in the 2023-24 season.
Last season's Big West Championship game-winner, Hawai'i was voted to the top spot in the poll, receiving six of the 11 first-place votes. Rounding out the top three is UC Irvine who totaled 88 points and two first-place votes, while UC Davis received three first-place votes and tallied 85 points.
The Big West will be streaming their Preview Show on ESPN+ starting at 1 p.m. The show will feature coach interviews along with the rankings for each school. Following the airing of the Preview Show, full coach interviews will also be available on The Big West YouTube channel.
UC Santa Barbara begins the season on Tuesday, Nov. 7 as they welcome the University of San Francisco to The Thunderdome. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Season tickets are available and can be purchased online, in person or by phone at (805) 724-6896.
2023-24 Big West Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank/Institution |
Points |
| 1. Hawai'i |
95 (6) |
| 2. UC Irvine |
88 (2) |
| 3. UC Davis |
85 (3) |
| 4. UC Santa Barbara |
65 |
| T5. Cal State Fullerton |
59 |
| T5. UC San Diego |
59 |
| 7. Long Beach State |
45 |
| 8. Cal Poly |
42 |
| 9. Cal State Bakersfield |
25 |
| 10. UC Riverside |
24 |
| 11. CSUN |
18 |
2023-24 All-Big West Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Team
| Student-Athlete |
Year |
Position |
Institution |
| Fujika Nimmo |
Sr. |
Guard |
Cal State Fullerton |
| Daejah Phillips |
Jr. |
Guard |
Hawai'i |
| Tova Sabel |
Sr. |
Guard |
UC Davis |
| Nikki Tom |
Jr. |
Guard |
UC Irvine |
| Evanne Turner |
Sr. |
Guard |
UC Davis |
| Lily Wahinekapu |
Jr. |
Guard |
Hawai'i |
