2026-27 NAIA Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll
SEWARD, Neb. – After hovering near the top 10 of the national polls throughout last season, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball will begin the 2026-27 campaign at 10th in the NAIA coaches’ poll. The NAIA National Office announced the 2026-27 NAIA Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll on Wednesday (Oct. 21). The Bulldogs are one of four GPAC teams to garner preseason top 25 nods.
Head Coach Drew Olson is on the cusp of tipping off his 21st season at the helm of the program. Last season’s edition finished at 23-8 overall (17-5 GPAC) and qualified for the national tournament. The 2025-26 Bulldogs climbed as high as No. 9 in the official coaches’ poll and landed at No. 13 in the final poll released last season. During Olson’s first 20 seasons leading the program, Concordia has finished in the top 25 a total of 14 times and inside the top 10 nine times. The 2018-19 squad is responsible for the NAIA national championship banner that hangs inside Friedrich Arena.
The ’26-27 team will lean upon an experienced backcourt and five returning GPAC All-Conference players: sophomore guard Ayla Roth (second team) and seniors Bree Bunting (HM), JJ Jones (HM), Raelyn Kelty (HM) and Sammy Leu (HM). The team’s leading returning scorers are Roth (11.0), Bunting (9.3), Leu (9.0), Kelty (8.5) and Jones (7.7).
The GPAC is represented by the following teams in the NAIA preseason poll: No. 2 Dakota Wesleyan, No. 7 Dordt, No. 10 Concordia and No. 18 Hastings. Six GPAC teams qualified last season’s national tournament.
The Bulldogs will play an exhibition game at the University of Nebraska Omaha today (Oct. 21) at 6:30 p.m. CT. The location will be Sapp Fieldhouse (free admission) and 104.9 Max Country will provide live coverage. The first official contest of the new season is coming up on Oct. 30 as part of a weekend event hosted by Dakota Wesleyan.
For a detailed look at the 2026-27 team, check out our season preview linked HERE.