Indiana Women’s Basketball Picked Fifth In Preseason Big Ten Polls

Indiana has not finished lower than fifth in the Big Ten since 2019. Even with standout teams coming to the Big Ten from the West Coast, the Hoosiers are still expected to contend.

Todd Golden | Sep 26, 2024

Indiana's Chloe Moore-McNeil (22) shares a laugh with Julianna LaMendola (20) after the second half of the Indiana versus Illinois women's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. / Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Indiana Hoosiers

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Even with the loss of leading scorers Mackenzie Holmes and Sara Scalia, the experts around the Big Ten don’t think the Indiana women’s basketball is going to stray far from the Big Ten contention.

The Big Ten released its coaches and media polls for women’s basketball on Thursday. In both polls, Indiana was ranked fifth.

Both polls had the same top five. Southern California was the favorite in both polls, trailed by UCLA, Ohio State, Maryland and Indiana.

The Big Ten only ranks the top five teams in the conference.

JuJu Watkins, USC’s super-sophomore guard, was named the Preseason Player of the Year in both polls.

A preseason All-Big Ten team was also selected. Indiana did not have a representative on either the coaches or media teams.

Watkins and UCLA center Lauren Betts were the only unanimous selections on the coaches’ preseason team. Watkins was the only unanimous selection on the media team.

Indiana may have lost Holmes (19.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Scalia (16.3 ppg), but they return guard Yarden Garzon (11.7 ppg), guard Sydney Parrish (10.8 pgg) and point guard Chloe Moore-McNeil (10.2 ppg, 5 apg). In addition, guard Shay Ciezki (11.5 ppg) joined the Hoosiers from Penn State. In effect, Ciezki replaces Scalia.

Center Lilly Meister will step into a starting role at center for the Hoosiers. She proved to be effective when she spelled Holmes in the last two seasons.

Indiana coach Teri Moren has the track record of success that has helped place the Hoosiers among the perennial contenders for the Big Ten championship. Since 2016, Indiana has not won fewer than 21 games. The Hoosiers were Big Ten champions in 2023 and tied for second in 2024.

Indiana has not finished lower than fifth in the Big Ten since the 2019 season when the Hoosiers were 10th.

Indiana begins its season on Nov. 4 when the Hoosiers host Brown. The Hoosiers begin Big Ten action on Dec. 7 at Penn State. Indiana opens its home Big Ten slate when it hosts Wisconsin on Dec. 28.

Big Ten Coaches Rankings

1. USC

2. UCLA

3. Ohio State

4. Maryland

5. Indiana

Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team*

Makira Cook, 5th-Yr., G, Illinois

Hannah Stuelke, Jr., F, Iowa

Lucy Olsen, Gr., G, Iowa

Shyanne Sellers, Sr., G, Maryland

Alexis Markowski, Sr., C/F, Nebraska

Cotie McMahon, Jr., F, Ohio State

Lauren Betts, Jr., C, UCLA

Kiki Rice, Jr., G, UCLA

JuJu Watkins, So., G, USC

Kiki Iriafen, Gr., F, USC

Serah Williams, Jr., F, Wisconsin

*Additional player due to tie in voting

Coaches Preseason Player of the Year – JuJu Watkins

Big Ten Media Rankings