NAPERVILLE — Illinois Wesleyan is the preseason favorite to capture the 2025–26 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s basketball title, according to the annual coaches’ poll released by the league office on Friday.
2025-26 CCIW Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Team (First-place votes) |
Points |
| 1. Illinois Wesleyan (6) |
62 |
| 2. Carroll (3) |
59 |
| 3. Elmhurst |
38 |
| T4. Carthage |
37 |
| T4. Wheaton |
37 |
| 6. North Central |
35 |
| 7. Augustana |
30 |
| 8. Millikin |
18 |
| 9. North Park |
8 |
The Titans earned six first-place votes and 62 total points to lead the nine-team field. Friday’s announcement marks the second consecutive season IWU has been the coaches’ pick to win the league. IWU swept the CCIW regular-season and tournament championships last season en route to a 24-6 record and an appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Carroll landed close behind in second place with three first-place votes and 59 points after last year’s 18-win season. Last year, the Pioneers played in the CCIW Tournament championship game for the second consecutive season.
Elmhurst was picked third with 38 points, while Carthage and Wheaton tied for fourth with 37 points apiece. North Central followed in sixth with 35 points, trailed by Augustana (30), Millikin (18), and North Park (8) to round out the preseason rankings.
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The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.), Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.), Carthage College (Kenosha, Wis.), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, Ill.), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Ill.), Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.), North Central College (Naperville, Ill.), North Park University (Chicago, Ill.) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.).