LAWRENCE — As Kansas women’s basketball continued to prepare for the 2025-26 season, Thursday it learned how it was viewed around the Big 12 Conference.
The league announced its coaches poll this week, placing the Jayhawks at No. 6 among 16 teams. KU also saw junior guard S’Mya Nichols become a unanimous selection for the preseason All-Big 12 team.
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Considering the momentum Kansas has had in recruiting ahead of the season, and Nichols’ career, that either are being considered among the best in the conference doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
RELATED: Check out Kansas women’s basketball’s Big 12 Conference schedule for the 2025-26 season
“Led by Nichols, Kansas returns its top six scorers from last season, while adding one of the most highly ranked recruiting classes in school history,” a KU release detailed.
“Other top returners include senior guard Elle Evans and sophomore forward Regan Williams. Evans earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention after averaging 14.4 points per game and hitting 69 three-pointers last season, while Williams was a Big 12 All-Freshman Team selection after scoring 9.0 points and leading KU with 4.9 rebounds per game. The Jayhawks also welcome the No. 7 recruiting class in the country, highlighted by five-star prospects Jaliya Davis and Keeley Parks.”
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When it comes to the coaches poll, Kansas comes behind preseason first-place TCU, second-place Iowa State, third-place Baylor, fourth-place Oklahoma State and fifth-place West Virginia. The Jayhawks are just ahead of rival-Kansas State, picked to finish No. 7. Whatever happens, KU is aiming for a bounce-back campaign after finishing 16-14 overall last season and missing out on the NCAA tournament.
Kansas has an exhibition game Oct. 29 at home on Fort Hays State, before the regular season opener Nov. 5 at home against Kansas City. It won’t take long for there to be a marquee matchup in non-conference play, as Nov. 15 in Kansas City, Missouri, the Jayhawks will take on rival-Missouri. The Big 12 opener comes Dec. 21 on the road against Iowa State.
Kansas women’s basketball guard S’Mya Nichols (12) tries to get past an Oklahoma State defender during a game at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Jan. 4, 2025.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas women’s basketball S’Mya Nichols preseason All-Big 12 team 2025
