SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – On Thursday afternoon, the Big West released its 2025 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, with Skylar Burke earning a spot among seven players named to the Preseason All-Big West Team. The Gauchos were also projected to finish fifth in conference standings.  

The senior guard from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, leads a diverse Gaucho squad that features a strong freshman class, promising transfers, and key returners. Burke ended the 2024-25 season with 10.4 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 2.2 assists. She went nine for nine against Long Beach State on Feb. 2 and had 12 rebounds versus Cal State Bakersfield on Feb. 6. Burke is expected to shine in her senior season as the frontwoman for the Gauchos. 

Coming off a 16-15 overall and 10-10 2024-25 conference record, the Gauchos entered the Big West championship as the No. 5 seed, where they narrowly fell short to Cal Poly in the first round of playoffs. They are predicted to maintain their status, but with a talented group of newcomers, the Gauchos look to make an impact in this upcoming season.

UC Santa Barbara will open the season on Monday, Nov. 3 in the Thunderdome against Cal State Monterey Bay. Season tickets are available and can be purchased online, in person or by phone at (805) 893-8272 or by emailing athletics-tickets@ucsb.edu. Single-game tickets are also now on sale and can be purchased by visiting ucsbgauchos.com/tickets.
 
You can catch Coach Jimenez on The Big West Preview show in coordination with The Field of 68 tomorrow, starting at 2 p.m. on The Field of 68's YouTube Channel.