ORLANDO, Fla.- The Sunshine State Conference released their 2025-26 preseason women's basketball coaches' poll on Wednesday morning. The Sailfish are predicted by the league's coaches to finish in seventh place. 

The Sailfish are coming into the season with first-year head coach Grahm Smith after previous head coach Manisha Redus left the program to pursue new opportunities. The Sailfish finished last season with a 14-15 (8-12) record and a first round SSC tournament elimination. The appearance in the SSC tournament was the second in program history.  

The Tampa Spartans, picked first in the poll, are coming off a shared regular season title with eventual SSC tournament champs, Embry-Riddle. The Eagles are second in the poll but garnered six first-place votes to Tampa's five. Eckerd, Nova Southeastern and Lynn round out the top five.  

The Sailfish return only four players from last year's squad. Anabel Ellison, Princess Hester, Natalie Allen, and Darria Whitley are supplemented by five transfers and two freshmen. The Sailfish must try and replace the program's leading scorer, Kash Ayuso, who graduated following last season. 

The Sailfish take the court for the first time on November 14th and 15th at the GSC-SSC South Region Conference Crossover when they take on West Florida and Valdosta State in Valdosta.