ST. LOUIS – For the fourth consecutive year, the UIC women's basketball team finished sixth in the 2026-27 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, as announced by the conference early Tuesday afternoon.

2026-27 MVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Number in parenthesis is the number of first-place votes
1. Murray State (41) – 477 pts.
2. Illinois State – 396 pts.
3. Belmont (2) – 375 pts.
4. Northern Iowa (1) – 343 pts.
5. Drake – 317 pts.
6. UIC – 267 pts.


Head coach Ashleen Bracey enters her fifth season at the helm, returning five student athletes, including junior Julia Coleman. Coleman earned three 2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference post season awards.

Nine newcomers will make their UIC debuts, including senior transfer Neveah Foster, who joins the Flames after a career-best 2025-26 season at IU Indy. Foster averaged 12.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 35.2% from three-point range, setting all-new career highs.

The Flames open the 2026-27 season on the road, beginning non-conference action against the Big 10's Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday, Nov. 2 at the Schottenstein Center. The game will be available to stream on B1G+ with a paid subscription, or through live stats at UICFlames.com. Tipoff times, broadcast information and promotions for the entire 2026-27 schedule will be announced at a later date.
All UIC home games are played at Credit Union 1 Arena, and fans can learn more about purchasing season tickets by contacting the UIC Athletics Ticket Office (312-413-UIC1; athleticsticketing@uic.edu).
 
For more information on UIC women's basketball, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_WBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_wbb and @uicflames).

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