LILBURN, Ga. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team is once again ranked No. 5 in this week's WBCA Coaches Poll, released Tuesday (Jan. 27) by the coaches organization.
 
Now 18-1 overall and 9-1 in MIAA play, the Tigers collected 479 points in the voting process, up from 469 one week ago. Defending national champion Grand Valley State held on to the top spot again this week, with Minnesota State slotted at No. 2. Pittsburg State is the only other MIAA team listed in the poll, with the Gorillas moving up two spots to No. 11.
 
The Tigers are one of only four teams to rank inside the top 10 of all 11 weekly polls released by the WBCA during the 2025-26 season. Fort Hays State has occupied seven of those top 10 spots at some point this season, ranking as high as No. 3 in weeks one and three and as low as No. 9 in the preseason.
 
This is the 17th time in program history that the Tigers have been ranked fifth in the DII coaches poll. FHSU is 26-4 all-time when ranked fifth, winning more games as the fifth-ranked team in the country than any other spot in the poll.
 
The Tigers have now been ranked 131 times in the program's DII era, including 47 appearances in the top five and 90 appearances inside the top 10. FHSU is 203-49 all-time when ranked, 80-18 when ranked inside the top five and 149-29 when ranked inside the top 10.
 
Winners of 11 in a row, tied for the ninth-longest winning streak in program history, the Tigers will look to avenge their only loss of the season on Thursday (Jan. 29) when they host Washburn. First tip is slated for 5:30 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
 
WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll - January 27, 2026
Rank - School (1st) - W-L - Points - Last Week
1 - Grand Valley State (23) - 18-0 - 575 - 1
2 - Minnesota State Mankato - 20-0 - 552 - 2
3 - Texas Woman's - 16-1 - 523 - 3
4 - Nova Southeastern - 19-0 - 496 - 4
5 - Fort Hays State - 18-1 - 479 - 5
6 - West Texas A&M - 18-1 - 463 - 6
7 - Colorado Mesa - 20-1 - 418 - 9
8 - Gannon - 18-2 - 409 - 8
9 - Central Washington - 18-1 - 378 - 11
10 - Indiana (Pa.) - 16-1 - 377 - 7
11 - Pittsburg State - 14-3 - 324 - 13
12 - Northern Michigan - 17-3 - 311 - 16
13 - Cal Poly Pomona - 16-2 - 308 - 10
14 - Coker - 15-3 - 227 - 18
15 - Harding - 14-3 - 206 - 12
16 - Daemen - 16-2 - 183 - 20
17 - Embry-Riddle - 14-3 - 177 - 14
18t - Bentley - 13-2 - 166 - 21
18t - Winston-Salem State - 16-1 - 166 - 22
20 - Miles - 17-3 - 138 - 17
21 - Ferris State - 14-4 - 121 - 19
22 - Columbus State - 15-3 - 113 - 23t
23 - Lubbock Christian - 15-4 - 102 - 15
24 - Northwestern Oklahoma State - 14-3 - 88 - 25
25 - Missouri-St. Louis - 15-2 - 32 - RV