We are just about a month into the 2025-26 DII women’s basketball season. Some surprising hot starts — and conversely — some surprising slower starts has led to a shakeup in the first DII women’s basketball Power 10 rankings of the season. Defending champion Grand Valley State is still locked in at No. 1, but four teams make their season debut this week.
DII WBB 2025: Preseason Power 10 | Guards to watch | Forwards
Remember, the DII women’s basketball Power 10 rankings are mine and mine alone. There is no voting body, just spreadsheets and hours of watching college basketball. The rankings aim to fall somewhere between the national coaches poll and selection committee metrics. There still aren’t many strong metrics, so these early Power 10 rankings lean more toward the eye test; however, once every team has a similar amount of games played in a few weeks, things should become more balanced.
The DII women’s basketball Power 10 (through Nov. 23)
No. 1 Grand Valley State | Previous: 1. The defending champs are off to a 4-0 start, and we are seeing what the Lakers do best early in the season. They are holding teams to just 53.3 points per game, while putting up 73.0 points per game, a nearly 20-point margin of victory. To no surprise, MacKenzie Bisballe is off to a hot start, leading the team in scoring (15.5 points per game) and rebounding (6.8 per game).
No. 2 Gannon | Previous: 2. Yes, Gannon has a loss, and it was a bit of a stunner to Northern Michigan in which they erased a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit and fell just short by one basket. However, the Golden Knights already have signature wins against top 10 teams Union (TN) by 14 and North Georgia by 15 as well as a seven-point win over tournament regular and ECC favorite Daemen. So, yes, I am letting that one loss by a mere basket slide as Gannon is already building one of the strongest resumes in DII.
No. 3 Coker | Previous: 8. The Cobras haven’t played the toughest schedule, but unlike the majority of the preseason Power 10, the Cobras are handling business and are off to a 4-0 start with Saturday’s win over a very good Fayetteville State team. Shawnteanna Tillman has come out on fire, with games of 35, 27 and 25 points through four games. Kamari Thompson is a rebounding machine again with 42 in four games to go with an impressive 11 blocks. The Cobras look like they are ready to defend their Southeast Region crown.
No. 4 Lubbock Christian | Previous: 9. The Chaps are off to a 6-0 start after its fourth-straight double-digit victory on Saturday. Kennedy Chappell (17.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists per game) and Meg Meekins (16.8 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, 47.6 percent shooting from 3-point land) are proving to be quite the one-two punch and a handful for opposing defenses. This team should continue to roll as it opens LSC play next week.
No. 5 Pittsburg State | Previous: 10 (tied). The Gorillas shoot up the rankings behind a 3-0 start. That is rather impressive when you consider the talent lost to graduation. However, some of the returning experience are off to hot starts. Harper Schreiner is dominating the box scores, averaging nearly a double-double with 14.7 points and 9.3 rebounds a game. Ja’Miya Brown scored 20 points last time out — her total points scored a year ago — so Brown may be on the verge of a breakout season. The Gorillas are coming off a monster season and had the right pieces in place. They have a super tough week ahead with Texas Woman’s and Angelo State on the schedule.
No. 6 Minnesota State | Previous: NR. This Mavericks offense has come out lighting up the scoreboards every night. They have yet to score fewer than 91 points in any of their five wins and are averaging 101.6 points per game while limiting opponents to 66.6 points per game. That’s a 35.0 average margin of victory for those that struggle with math. Nine players are currently contributing at least seven points per game, with Natalie Bremer leading the way with 17.0 points per game. The Mavericks open NSIC play this week and should have little problem keeping this torrid pace alive.
No. 7 Harding | Previous: NR. The Bisons are 4-0, but it is how they got to that perfect start that is impressive. They took down nationally ranked Tampa and then nationally ranked Texas Woman’s at the Texas Woman’s Tip-Off Classic to open the season. We knew Harding was going to be tough in the GAC, but the Bisons are showing they can handle the pressure on the national stage as well. Four starters are averaging double-digit points, three of which contribute at least 5.0 rebounds per game as well. This is a balanced team.
No. 8 Fort Hays State | Previous: Also considered. The Tigers are rolling and have played themselves into the Power 10. They are 4-0 and are scoring a very nice 83.0 points per game while holding opponents to 68.3 points per game. Talexa Weeter is off to a red-hot start, with games of 36, 29 and 25 points while averaging 8.3 rebounds per game. The Tigers are a proven powerhouse the past several years, with 20 wins seemingly a guarantee. Expect this team to compete all year long.
No. 9 Texas Woman’s | Previous: 5. Well, the Pioneers have been mentioned a few times already. They slip just a few spots for that blowout loss to Harding, but they bounced back with big wins over Colorado School of Mines and 2025 tournament team UCCS. Gabby Elliot has been impressive, transitioning from key role player last year to starter, and leading the team in points (17.0 per game) and rebounds (10.6 per game) with three double doubles already on the season. This starting five is dangerous and is four-deep with players that can seemingly score at will.
No. 10 Fairmont State | Previous: Also considered. The Fighting Falcons soar into the Power 10 with a 4-0 start to the season. They barely edge out teams like Nova Southeastern and Union (TN), and Leslie Huffman is a big reason why. The 5-foot-10 guard has been one of the most exciting players to watch this year, having scored 26, 32, 26 and 27 in her first four games. They have a very tough matchup against a strong Indiana (PA) team. Should they win there, this Falcons’ start is very much for real.
Also considered (in alphabetical order; bold indicates new team this week): Alaska Anchorage, Ashland, Colorado Mesa, Concordia-St. Paul, Embry-Riddle, Indiana (PA), North Georgia, Nova Southeastern, Union (TN), West Texas A&M.
