Official NWC Release

HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Northwest Conference released its women's basketball preseason coaches' poll on Tuesday with Pacific Lutheran University looking to buck expectations after being picked to finish eighth.
 
The Lutes racked up 12 points in the poll, finishing one point ahead of Lewis & Clark College.

Whitman College sits atop the rankings with 61 points and five of the nine first place endorsements. University of Puget Sound is second with 53 points and two first place votes with Linfield University rounding out the top three, securing 50 points and the remaining two first place votes. 

George Fox University sits fourth with 47 points followed by Willamette University (35 points), Whitworth University (30 points), and Pacific University (25 points).

The Lutes (3-22, 2-14 NWC in 2025-2026) open the 2026-2027 season at home on Friday, hosting Warner Pacific University at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Lutheran will also open the conference slate at home inside Olson Gymnasium, welcoming Pacific to Tacoma on Dec. 4.