BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Minnesota State University, Mankato was selected by NSIC coaches as the overall preseason favorite and the South Division favorite for the 2026-27 season. The Mavericks received 215 points and six first-place votes, finishing 21 points ahead of second-place Concordia-St. Paul. The Golden Bears earned four first-place votes, while Sioux Falls received five but ranked third with 185 points. The University of Mary, the North Division preseason favorite, placed fourth overall with 174 points and the remaining first-place vote.
The University of Mary had 45 points and four first place votes to top the north division poll. Minnesota Duluth was a close second in the north poll with 43 points and three first place votes.
NSIC coaches rank each team in the NSIC in the overall poll and team from their division in the divisional poll. In the overall poll coaches rank from 1 to 15 with a first place vote receiving 15 points, second place 14, third place 13, etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players.
The regular season champion will be based on the 22-game NSIC schedule. Each team will play teams in their division twice (14 divisional games) and teams in the other division once (8 out-of-division games). An NSIC North and South Division Champion will also be awarded. Divisional standings will also be based on all 22 NSIC contests played. In the event of a tie, co-champions will be awarded.
The 2026-27 women’s basketball season gets underway at the end of October with non-conference action, while NSIC play begins in November.
The 12-team NSIC Women’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championship are set to take place February 27-March 2 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The tournament will be seeded using the NSIC 22-game schedule, with the top four seeds receiving a first-round bye. First round games will be played on campus on Wednesday, February 24.