RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's basketball team was picked to finish third in the Southland Conference (SLC) in the 2026-27 Preseason Poll released Tuesday. 
 
UTRGV received 98 points and one first-place vote in the poll, which is voted on by the SLC's 12 head women's basketball coaches. The Vaqueros were picked to finish ahead of UIW and defending regular-season champion McNeese. 
 
Lamar was chosen as the favorite to win the conference, receiving 116 points and six first-place votes. Stephen F. Austin took second with 113 points and five first-place votes. UIW (79) and McNeese (71) rounded out the top five with McNeese taking the final first-place vote.
 
UTRGV opens the 2026-27 season Monday, Nov. 2, against Arlington Baptist. Tipoff is at 5 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. 
 
2026-27 SLC Preseason Poll 
1. Lamar, 116 points (6 first place votes)
2. Stephen F. Austin, 114 (5) 
3. UTRGV (1), 98
4. UIW, 79
5. McNeese, 71
6. East Texas A&M, 68
7. Northwestern State, 54
8. Houston Christian, 52
9. A&M-Corpus Christi
10. Southeastern, 40
11. Nicholls, 34
12. LSU New Orleans, 19

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