Ohio State Buckeyes Women’s Basketball Open At No. 7 In Preseason Rankings

Head coach Kevin McGuff will lead the Ohio States Buckeyes women's basketball team for his 11th year.

Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball will open the season on a high note.

The Buckeyes were named No. 7 in the Associated Press preseason rankings, a season after they finished 28-8 and made it to the Elite Eight.

Led by guard Jacy Sheldon and Big Ten Freshman of the Year forward Cotie McMahon, Ohio State finished fourth in the Big Ten rankings but finished runner-up to Iowa in the conference tournament. They look to contend for the title yet again as one of three ranked conference teams in the top 10 nationally.

In addition, McMahon — unanimously — and Sheldon were named to the preseason All-Big Ten team, as voted by coaches.

Although the team lost all-conference First Team shooting guard Taylor Mikesell to the WNBA, they brought in All-ACC Defensive Player of the Year Celeste Taylor from Duke. Ohio State averaged 11.3 steals per game last year — only three Power 5 teams ranked in the top 15 in the category.

Sheldon was also a member of the 2022 conference All-Defensive First Team. Though the graduate only played 13 games last season, she and Taylor may lead the most dominant backcourt in college basketball on both sides of the ball.

Ohio State got as high as No. 2 in the AP polls last season after starting the season an all-time best 19-0. The Buckeyes will start No. 2 in the conference rankings.

Buckeyes women’s basketball is on the rise. 

And Though the team had a historic one last year, this season has a chance to be another special one in Columbus.