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 favorite to be named the 2021-22 conference champions while the Lancers' Ane Olaeta was named WAC Preseason Player of the Year.
The Lancers earned the sweep in the polls as they picked up the top spot in the media poll after being selected first overall in the coaches' poll. CBU was followed by Stephen F. Austin while Utah Valley was picked to finish third in the conference. Grand Canyon was chosen to finish fourth, Sam Houston was fifth and NM State took sixth. The Aggies were followed by Lamar, Abilene Christian, Seattle U, UT Rio Grande Valley, Tarleton, Dixie State and Chicago State.
Olaeta leads the group of Preseason All-WAC award getters and is joined by teammate Britney Thomas. Utah Valley's Maria Carvalho and Josie Williams joined the pair of Lancers while Stephen F. Austin also boasted two first-team members in Aiyana Johnson and Stephanie Visscher. Grand Canyon's Amara Graham and Lamar's Micaela Wilson also picked up first-team honors.
Second-team selections include Grand Canyon's Tiarra Brown, Seattle U's Bree Calhoun, Sam Houston's Faith Cook, Tarleton's Marissa Escamilla, California Baptist's Caitlyn Harper, NM State's Soufia Inoussa, Abilene Christian's Madi Miller and Stephen F. Austin's Zya Nugent.
2021-22 Preseason Women's Basketball Media Poll
| Rank |
Team |
| 1. |
California Baptist |
| 2. |
Stephen F. Austin |
| 3. |
Utah Valley |
| 4. |
Grand Canyon |
| 5. |
Sam Houston |
| 6. |
NM State |
| 7. |
Lamar |
| T8. |
Abilene Christian |
| T8. |
Seattle U |
| 10. |
UT Rio Grande Valley |
| 11. |
Tarleton |
| 12. |
Dixie State |
| 13. |
Chicago State |
2021-22 Preseason Women's Basketball Media All-WAC Teams
First Team All-WAC
Maria Carvalho, Jr., G, Utah Valley
Amara Graham, Gr., G, Grand Canyon
Aiyana Johnson, Sr., F/C, Stephen F. Austin
Ane Olaeta, Gr., G, California Baptist
Britney Thomas, Sr., California Baptist
Stephanie Visscher, Sr., G, Stephen F. Austin
Josie Williams, Jr., C, Utah Valley
Micaela Wilson, Gr., F, Lamar
Second Team All-WAC
Tiarra Brown, So., G., Grand Canyon
Bree Calhoun, Sr., G, Seattle U
Faith Cook, R-Sr., G, Sam Houston
Marissa Escamilla, Sr., F, Tarleton
Caitlyn Harper, R-So., F, California Baptist
Soufia Inoussa, Jr., G, NM State
Madi Miller, Sr., G, Abilene Christian
Zya Nugent, Jr., G, Stephen F. Austin
Preseason Player of the Year: Ane Olaeta, California Baptist