WAC Media Select California Baptist, Olaeta as Preseason Favorites
DENVER – The Western Athletic Conference women's basketball media have selected California Baptist as the preseason favorites to be named the 2020-21 conference champions while the Lancers' Ane Olaeta was named WAC Preseason Player of the Year.
In just their third year in the league, California Baptist earned five first-place votes and 61 points from the media to capture the top spot. Utah Valley came in just behind CBU with 60 points and received one first-place vote. UT Rio Grande Valley collected the third spot as they earned 56 points while NM State picked up a first-place vote to put them in fourth with 53 points. The media gave the fifth spot to Seattle U with 41 points. Grand Canyon tallied the final first-place vote and 39 points to finish sixth, followed by Tarleton in seventh, Dixie State in eighth and Chicago State in ninth.
Olaeta leads the group of Preseason All-WAC award getters and is joined by teammate Britney Thomas. UT Rio Grande Valley's Amara Graham, Utah Valley's Maria Carvalho and NM State's Aaliyah Prince are also among the first-team honorees.
Second-team selections include Utah Valley's Josie Williams, Seattle U's Courtney Murphy, California Baptist's Georgia Dale and Caitlyn Harper, and NM State's Soufia Inoussa.
2020-21 Preseason Women's Basketball Media Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| T1. |
California Baptist (5) |
61 |
| 2. |
Utah Valley (1) |
60 |
| 3. |
UT Rio Grande Valley |
56 |
| 4. |
NM State (1) |
53 |
| 5. |
Seattle U |
41 |
| 6. |
Grand Canyon (1) |
39 |
| 7. |
Tarleton |
23 |
| 8. |
Dixie State |
17 |
| 9. |
Chicago State |
10 |
2020-21 Preseason Women's Basketball Media All-WAC Teams
First Team
Ane Olaeta, California Baptist
Amara Graham, UT Rio Grande Valley
Maria Carvalho, Utah Valley
Aaliyah Prince, NM State
Britney Thomas, California Baptist
Second Team
Josie Williams, Utah Valley
Courtney Murphy, Seattle U
Georgia Dale, California Baptist
Caitlyn Harper, California Baptist
Soufia Inoussa, NM State
Preseason Player of the Year: Ane Olaeta, California Baptist