Which Cougars Landed on All-WCC Men’s/Women’s Basketball Preseason Teams?
During the West Coast Conference media day, the preseason coaches poll and all league teams were announced for both men and women’s basketball with the Washington State Cougars picked to finish sixth and third in the conference respectively.
On the men’s side, the Cougs have five players returning from last year’s squad and will need to lean on several newcomers to play significant roles, including Adria Rodriguez. Ranking as one of the worst defensive teams in college basketball last season, Washington State will have to improve on that end of the court if it wants to push its way up the league standings in coach David Riley’s second season with the program.
Here is the WCC Men’s Preseason Coaches Poll:
- Gonzaga
- Saint Mary’s
- San Francisco
- Santa Clara
- Oregon State
- Washington State
- LMU
- Seattle U
- San Diego
- Pacific
- Pepperdine
- Portland
Though the team has been predicted to finish in the upper half of the conference, no Cougars were named to the All-WCC preseason team. Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s, and San Francisco each had two players selected.
- Ryan Beasley, San Francisco
- Thierry Darlan, Santa Clara
- Braden Huff, Gonzaga
- Graham Ike, Gonzaga
- Mikey Lewis, Saint Mary’s
- Elijah Mahl, Santa Clara
- Paulius Murauskas, Saint Mary’s
- Elias Ralph, Pacific
- Tyrone Riley IV, San Francisco
- Harry Wessels, Saint Mary’s
The Washington State women are looking to go back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2022-2023 season. The Cougs finished third last year and were bounced in the WCC semifinals. They return a pair of talented starters in standout Alex Covill and All-WCC Second Team member Eleonora Villa, who was the lone Coug to be selected to the preseason All-WCC squad.
- Dyani Ananiev, Portland
- Zeryhia Aokuso, Gonzaga
- Tiara Bolden, Oregon State
- Catarina Ferreira, Oregon State
- Sophie Glancey, Santa Clara
- Maya Hernandez, LMU
- Maia Jones, Santa Clara
- Kennedie Shuler, Oregon State
- Allie Turner, Gonzaga
- Eleonora Villa, Washington State
