KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its preseason polls for the 2024-25 women’s basketball season. MIAA head coaches tabbed Pittsburg State to finish at the top of the league while MIAA media members picked Fort Hays State to take the 2025 crown.
 
The MIAA tipped off the 2024-25 basketball season with the Association’s annual Basketball Media Day at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City. Commissioner Mike Racy announced the men’s and women’s preseason rankings from MIAA coaches and media representatives during his opening remarks of the 2024 MIAA Basketball Media Day, presented by  Seigfreid Bingham.
 
Pittsburg State led the coaches preseason poll with 164 points and 10 first-place selections. The Gorillas captured the 2024 MIAA tournament title for the first time in program history and will return all starters from the 2023-24 lineup. After making an appearance in the opening of the Central Region Championship, the Gorillas finished the 2023-24 season 24-8 overall and 15-7 in the MIAA to finish the regular season standings in a tie for fifth. Pitt State was also selected second in the media preseason poll with 229 points and three first-place votes.
 
Fort Hays State was picked MIAA favorites by media representatives who cover MIAA  teams. The Tigers went 25-8 overall last season and 16-6 in the MIAA to finish the regular season in a three-way tie for the league’s runner-up. Fort Hays State finished also second in the coaches poll with 156 points and three first-place nods.  
 
Northwest Missouri and Missouri Southern finished third and fourth, respectfully, in both the coaches and media poll. Bearcats and Lions both joined the Tigers in a three-way tie for the defending MIAA runner-up title. Both teams went 16-6 in the league while Northwest ended the season 23-8 and Southern finished with an overall record of 20-9.
 
The 2024-25 MIAA women’s basketball season will feature just one new head coach – Ashton Feldhaus is entering her first season leading an NCAA Division II program with the Griffons.
 
Below is the official preseason coaches poll and preseason media poll for the 2024-25 MIAA women’s basketball season.

The 2024-25 NCAA Division II women’s basketball season officially begins the first weekend of November with MIAA contests starting the first week of December. To view the complete schedule for all MIAA women’s basketball programs, click here.
 
2024-25 MIAA WOMEN'S PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [10] – 164 points
2. Fort Hays State [2] – 152 points
3. Northwest Missouri [2] – 142 points
4. Missouri Southern – 137 points
5. Central Missouri – 124 points
6. Nebraska Kearney – 97 points
7. Missouri Western – 89 points
8. Emporia State – 86 points
9. Northeastern State – 80 points
10. Washburn – 68 points
11. Central Oklahoma – 50 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 39 points
13. Rogers State – 29 points
14. Newman – 17 points
[#] - Number of First-Place Votes
 
2024-25 MIAA WOMEN'S PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
1. Fort Hays State [9] – 246 points
2. Pittsburg State [5] – 231 points
3. Northwest Missouri [1] – 225 points
4. Missouri Southern [1] – 206 points
5. Missouri Western [2] – 192 points
6. Central Missouri [1] – 174 points
7. Emporia State – 139 points
8. Nebraska Kearney – 129 points
9. Washburn – 107 points
10. Northeastern State – 101 points
11. Central Oklahoma – 84 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 74 points
13. Rogers State – 66 points 
14. Newman – 21 points 
[#] - Number of First-Place Votes