The Jayhawks are back with a vengeance — but will it be enough to crack the Big 12's top tier?
Kansas women’s basketball is stepping into the 2025-26 season with both high hopes and a chip on their shoulder. Despite returning nearly all of last year’s core and welcoming arguably the most talented recruiting class in program history, Big 12 coaches still slotted KU sixth out of 16 teams in the league’s annual preseason poll released Thursday morning.
It’s a bittersweet ranking for a team that finished 11th last season after injuries derailed what was supposed to be a mid-pack showing. Now, healthy and battle-tested, the Jayhawks are ready to prove the doubters wrong.
Last year’s contributors are almost entirely back. That includes versatile wings Elle Evans and Brittany Harshaw, sharpshooting guards Laia Conesa and Sania Copeland, physical forward Regan Williams, and defensive anchor Nadira Eltayeb in the middle. But perhaps the most impactful returnee is junior guard S’Mya Nichols — a player who has essentially become the face of KU women’s basketball.
Nichols, from Overland Park, is already a two-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree and was unanimously named to the preseason all-conference team yet again. She’s coming off a dominant season where she averaged 18.6 points per game (fifth in the league), shattered the school record for free throws in a season, and earned an All-American honorable mention from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Not bad for someone who still has another year of college ball ahead of her.
This year, head coach Brandon Schneider — now in his 11th season — isn’t just relying on his veterans. KU’s freshman class brings fresh excitement, with names like Tatyonna Brown, McDonald’s All-American Jaliya Davis, Libby Fandel, and Keeley Parks. Add in Indiana transfer Lilly Meister to reinforce the frontcourt, and suddenly the Jayhawks’ 12-player roster looks deeper and more versatile than what they had a year ago.
The schedule is about to heat up quickly. KU will debut at Late Night in the Phog on Oct. 17, host Fort Hays State in an exhibition on Oct. 29, and officially tip off the season against Kansas City on Nov. 5.
The preseason poll ranked TCU, Iowa State, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia ahead of KU. Trailing the Jayhawks were Kansas State, Utah, Colorado, BYU, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Arizona, Houston, and UCF. Iowa State’s Audi Crooks claimed the title of Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, while Cincinnati’s Dee Alexander was tapped as Freshman of the Year.
But here’s where it gets controversial: With a roster this deep and a superstar in Nichols, is sixth place really their ceiling? Or are Big 12 coaches underestimating what KU can do when healthy and fully loaded? And if Nichols continues her upward trajectory, could she challenge Crooks for Player of the Year honors?
Now it’s your turn — do you think the Jayhawks’ loaded lineup and veteran leadership will outperform their preseason ranking? Or will the coaches’ prediction prove accurate once the dust settles? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
