LILBURN, Ga. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team is back to No. 3 in the nation according to the most recent WBCA Division II Coaches Poll, released Tuesday (Dec. 2) by the coaches association. The Tigers previously moved to No. 3 in the country two weeks ago before dipping one spot to No. 4 last week.
 
Now 6-0 for the 13th time in team history, Fort Hays State picked up 504 points in the balloting process, up from 474 last week and just 18 points behind second-ranked Minnesota State Mankato. Defending national champion Grand Valley State is still a unanimous pick at No. 1, earning all 23 first-place votes.
 
The Tigers are one of four central region teams in the top eight in the country alongside Mankato, No. 7 Harding and No. 8 Pittsburg State. 24th-ranked Concordia-St. Paul is the only other regional rival inside the top 25, while Northwestern Oklahoma State from the GAC is receiving votes this week. The Tigers and Gorillas are the only two MIAA programs recognized in the poll.
 
This is the 12th time the Tigers have been ranked third in the national poll. The Tigers are 23-7 all-time when ranked third in the coaches poll. Those 23 wins when ranked third are second only to No. 5 (24-4) when it comes to number of victories by national ranking.
 
The Tigers have now been listed in 124 different releases of the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll, including 45 appearances in the top five and 83 mentions inside the top 10 in the country. FHSU is 191-48 all-time when ranked, including a 77-17 mark when ranked inside the top five and a 137-28 record when ranked inside the top 10.
 
Fort Hays State will open conference play this Thursday (Dec. 4) when the Tigers take on Central Missouri beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
WBCA DII Coaches Poll - December 2, 2025
Rank - School (1st) - W-L - Points - Last
1 - Grand Valley State (23) - 6-0 - 575 - 1
2 - Minnesota State Mankato - 7-0 - 522 - 5
3 - Fort Hays State - 6-0 - 504 - 4
4 - Lubbock Christian - 7-0 - 497 - 6
5 - Texas Woman's - 5-1 - 444 - 8
6 - Gannon - 7-1 - 421 - 7
7 - Harding - 6-0 - 405 - 10
8 - Pittsburg State - 4-1 - 386 - 2t
9 - Embry-Riddle - 5-0 - 374 - 9
10 - Coker - 5-1 - 368 - 2t
11 - Nova Southeastern - 7-0 - 344 - 12
12 - West Texas A&M - 6-1 - 287 - 13
13 - Indiana (Pa.) - 5-0 - 273 - 20
14 - Colorado Mesa - 8-1 - 260 - 15
15 - Fairmont State - 5-1 - 225 - 11
16 - Alaska Anchorage - 7-0 - 220 - 17
17 - Northern Michigan - 8-1 - 215 - 18
18 - Ferris State - 6-1 - 184 - 19
19 - Central Washington - 6-0 - 166 - 23
20 - Columbus State - 5-1 - 130 - 22
21 - Bentley - 3-1 - 111 - 21
22 - Union (Tenn.) - 4-3 - 85 - 14
23 - Cal Poly Pomona - 4-1 - 81 - 25
24 - Concordia-St. Paul - 4-2 - 71 - 16
25 - Malone - 6-0 - 62 - RV
 
Dropped out: No. 24 Holy Family (4-2).
 
Others receiving votes: Ashland (3-2) 35; California State L.A. (3-0) 35; Daemen (4-1) 28; Lincoln Memorial (5-0) 27; Miles (5-1) 22; Texas-Tyler (4-3) 19; Augusta (3-1) 15; Northwestern Oklahoma State (5-1) 9; Fayetteville State (4-1) 7; Vanguard U. (3-1) 3.
 
9 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 65 combined points.