UNM Women’s Basketball Tabbed Fifth in Mountain West Preseason Poll
The UNM women's basketball team has been predicted to finish fifth in the Mountain West preseason poll, as announced at Media Day in Las Vegas.
Albuquerque Santa Fe, NM, October 8, 2026 — The University of New Mexico (UNM) women’s basketball program has been projected to finish fifth in the upcoming Mountain West Conference season. This prediction was revealed as part of the league’s annual preseason poll, which was announced during the conference’s Media Day event held in Las Vegas.
The preseason poll serves as an indicator of expectations for teams within the conference, compiled based on votes from head coaches or a media panel. A fifth-place ranking suggests that UNM is viewed as a competitive team within the Mountain West, positioned in the middle tier of the conference standings according to these early projections.
Mountain West Media Day is a traditional event where coaches and select student-athletes from each member institution gather to discuss the upcoming season, preview key matchups, and address media inquiries. It typically marks the unofficial start of the basketball season for the conference, generating buzz and setting the stage for the challenges ahead.
While the specific details regarding the voting process or the margin of points for the fifth-place prediction were not provided in the summary, the announcement places UNM among a group of teams expected to contend for the conference title and automatic NCAA Tournament bid that comes with winning the regular season or tournament championship.
The team’s performance in the previous season and the return of key players or addition of new talent often influence these preseason rankings. However, without further details from the summary, the exact factors contributing to UNM’s fifth-place projection remain unspecified. Fans and analysts will be looking to see how the Lobos perform on the court to validate or challenge these early expectations throughout the 2023-2024 season.
The Mountain West Conference is known for its competitive landscape, with multiple teams often vying for top positions. The preseason poll indicates that UNM is anticipated to be a factor in that competition. The final standings, however, will be determined by the teams’ performances throughout the conference schedule, which typically begins in early winter.
Story summarized from the original created by Van Tate on www.krqe.com, see more information here.
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