WAC Coaches Select California Baptist, Olaeta as Preseason Favorites
DENVER – California Baptist has been named the favorite to win the 2021-22 women's basketball title and the Lancers' Ane Olaeta was selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year in a vote of the league's 13 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.
After putting together one of the best seasons in WAC history a season ago, the Lancers earned the top spot with 137 points and six first-place votes in the preseason poll. WAC newcomer Stephen F. Austin was close behind with six first-place votes and a total of 133 points. The Ladyjacks were followed by Grand Canyon who received the remaining first-place vote and 112 points. Utah Valley was slotted in the fourth spot with 106 points while Abilene Christian was selected to finish fifth, garnering 91 points. Sam Houston claimed a total of 86 points as they landed in sixth. NM State came in just behind the Bearkats with 90 points while Lamar was eighth with 63 points. Seattle U captured ninth with 61 points, followed by UT Rio Grande Valley with 54 points. The Tarleton Texans earned 43 points to see themselves picked to finish 11th. Dixie State and Chicago State rounded out the poll, collecting 25 points and 14 points, respectively.
Olaeta is atop the list of Preseason All-WAC honorees. The senior guard is joined on the first team by fellow Lancer Britney Thomas, Stephen F. Austin's Stephanie Visscher and Zya Nugent, Utah Valley's Maria Carvalho and Josie Williams, Grand Canyon's Amara Graham and Lamar's Micaela Wilson.
Second team honors went to UT Rio Grande Valley's Sara Bershers, Grand Canyon's Tiarra Brown, Seattle U's Bree Calhoun and McKenzi Williams, Sam Houston's Faith Cook, California Baptist's Caitlyn Harper, Stephen F. Austin's Aiyana Johnson and Abilene Christian's Madi Miller.
2021-22 Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Team (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
California Baptist (6) |
137 |
| 2. |
Stephen F. Austin (6) |
133 |
| 3. |
Grand Canyon (1) |
112 |
| 4. |
Utah Valley |
106 |
| 5. |
Abilene Christiamn |
91 |
| 6. |
Sam Houston |
86 |
| 7. |
NM State |
80 |
| 8. |
Lamar |
63 |
| 9. |
Seattle U |
61 |
| 10. |
UT Rio Grande Valley |
54 |
| 11. |
Tarleton |
43 |
| 12. |
Dixie State |
25 |
| 13. |
Chicago State |
14 |
2021-22 Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches' All-WAC Teams
First Team
Maria Carvalho, Jr., G, Utah Valley
Amara Graham, Gr., G, Grand Canyon
Zya Nugent, Jr., G, Stephen F. Austin
Ane Olaeta, Gr., G, California Baptist
Britney Thomas, Sr., F, California Baptist
Stephanie Visscher, Sr., G, Stephen F. Austin
Josie Williams, Jr., C, Utah Valley
Micaela Wilson, Gr., F, Lamar
Second Team
Sara Bershers, So., G, UT Rio Grande Valley
Tiarra Brown, So., G, Grand Canyon
Bree Calhoun, Sr., G, Seattle U
Faith Cook, R-Sr., G, Sam Houston
Caitlyn Harper, R-So., F, California Baptist
Aiyana Johnson, Sr., F/C Stephen F. Austin
Madi Miller, Sr., G, Abilene Christian
McKenzi Williams, R-Sr., G, Seattle U
Preseason Player of the Year: Ane Olaeta, California Baptist