LILBURN, Ga. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team is receiving votes in the WBCA NCAA Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll, released Tuesday (Oct. 27). The Tigers are coming off a 25-6 record in 2025-26, extending Division II's longest active streak of 20-win seasons to 15.
 
After spending the entirety of the last two seasons inside the national top 25, this is the first time the Tigers are not ranked since the final poll in 2024. Fort Hays State had been mentioned in the last 36 polls, snapping the longest streak in team history. It is the first time the Tigers are not in the preseason top 25 since 2023-24.
 
Two-time defending champion Grand Valley State tops the poll, receiving all 23 first-place votes. Four Central Region rivals are listed inside the top 25, including No. 7 Minnesota State, No. 14 Central Missouri, No. 15 Concordia-St. Paul and No. 22 Minnesota Duluth.
 
Fourth-year head coach Talia Kahrs returns eight student-athletes from last season while adding five newcomers, including two transfers and three freshmen. Kahrs has accumulated a record of 78-19 over the last three seasons, averaging 26 victories per season.

FHSU's stretch of 15 consecutive 20-win seasons dates back to 2010-11. It is the fourth-longest active streak across all levels of NCAA women's basketball and only trails UConn (33), Baylor (26) and Louisville (16).
 
The Tigers will open the regular season at home on Monday, November 9 when they host Tabor at 5:30 p.m.
 
WBCA NCAA Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll - 10/27/26
Rank - School - 25-26 W-L - Points - Last Season's Final Rank
1 - Grand Valley State - 36-1 - 575 - 1
2 - Colorado Mesa - 37-2 - 510 - 3
3 - Alabama-Huntsville - 32-6 - 465 - 4
4 - Indiana, PA - 31-4 - 453 - 2
5 - Cal Poly Pomona - 29-5 - 451 - 5
6 - Texas Woman's - 31-2 - 432 - 6
7 - Minnesota State Mankato - 29-3 - 430 - 11
8 - Winston-Salem State - 28-4 - 411 - 9
9 - Lenoir-Rhyne - 26-6 - 329 - 18
10 - Holy Family - 30-5 - 279 - 7
11 - Bentley - 23-5 - 274 - 17
12 - Gannon - 29-5 - 265 - 8
13 - Carson-Newman - 24-11 - 262 - 15
14 - Central Missouri - 26-7 - 211 - RV
15t - Concordia-St. Paul - 26-7 - 178 - 22
15t - Daemen - 26-4 - 178 - 10
17 - Glenville State - 24-7 - 159 - NR
18 - Ashland - 14-13 - 157 - NR
19 - Tampa - 19-11 - 153 - NR
20 - West Texas A&M - 28-5 - 152 - 13
21 - Western Washington - 25-8 - 148 - RV
22 - Minnesota Duluth - 23-9 - 85 - 12
23 - Columbus State - 25-5 - 82 - 23
24 - Texas-Tyler - 22-11 - 81 - NR
25 - Missouri-St. Louis - 25-6 - 79 - RV
 
Dropped out: No. 14 Nova Southeastern (28-5);No. 16 Fort Hays State (25-6); No. 19 Lincoln Memorial (26-5); No. 20 Coker (26-7); No. 21 Northwood (28-6); No. 24 Ferris State (26-7); No. 25 Central Washington (25-7).
 
Others receiving votes: Miles (25-6) 76; Fort Hays State (25-6) 74; Nova Southeastern (28-5) 71; Central Washington (25-7) 57; Northwood (28-6) 54; Embry-Riddle (22-7) 44; Ferris State (26-7) 36; Lincoln Memorial (26-5) 35; Lubbock Christian (23-8) 35; Fayetteville State (21-6) 34; Harding (24-7) 33; Coker (26-7) 22; Edward Waters (23-6) 22; Missouri Southern State (20-10) 13; Fairmont State (21-9) 10; Lane (22-6) 9; Vanguard U. (25-6) 9; Augusta (21-10) 8; Southern Connecticut State (20-10) 4; Benedict (19-9) 4.
 
5 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 28 combined points.