LOS ANGELES – The Loyola Marymount University women's basketball team has been selected third in the 2026-27 West Coast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, earning 63 points and two first-place votes, as announced by the conference. Senior forward Maya Hernandez was also named to the 2026-27 Preseason All-WCC Team following a standout junior campaign.

The Lions enter the upcoming season looking to build on one of the most successful years in program history. Under head coach Aarika Hughes, LMU captured the 2025-26 WCC Regular Season Championship with a program-record 15 conference victories, finishing 15-3 in league play and 21-10 overall.
The historic campaign marked LMU's first regular-season conference championship since the 2003-04 season and featured a nine-game winning streak, the program's first victory over Gonzaga since 2008 and its first postseason appearance since 2019 with a berth in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT). Hughes was named WCC Coach of the Year following the championship season.

Hernandez headlines the Lions' returning group after earning All-WCC First Team recognition following an impressive junior campaign. The senior forward averaged 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field. She appeared in all 31 games, making 30 starts, and finished the season with 441 points, 167 rebounds, 53 steals and 23 blocks.

Hernandez delivered several standout performances throughout LMU's championship run, including a pair of 25-point outings against Denver and Santa Clara. She also recorded 21 points and eight rebounds in an overtime victory at Pepperdine and added 22 points in a road win over Seattle U. Her consistent contributions on both ends of the floor helped propel the Lions to their historic conference championship.

The preseason poll reflects a competitive race at the top of the conference standings. Santa Clara was selected first with 74 points and four first-place votes, followed closely by Portland with 71 points and four first-place votes. LMU received the remaining two first-place votes, while Pepperdine (59) and San Francisco (58) rounded out the top five.

The 2026-27 season introduces a new conference landscape, with Denver joining the WCC. The Lions will begin their title defense at Gersten Pavilion on Dec. 31 against Seattle U before hosting Saint Mary's on Jan. 2.

Before opening conference play, LMU will tip off its 2026-27 campaign at home against Nevada on Nov. 2. The Lions' nonconference slate features matchups against California, Gonzaga, UNLV and Hawai'i as the team prepares for another competitive WCC season.
With a championship-winning foundation and returning experience, LMU enters the new season looking to remain among the conference's top contenders and build on the momentum of its historic 2025-26 campaign.
 

2026-27 WCC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

Rank	School (First-Place Votes)	Points
1	Santa Clara (4)	74
2	Portland (4)	71
3	LMU (2)	63
4	Pepperdine	59
5	San Francisco	58
6	San Diego	35
7	Pacific	34
8	Seattle U	24
9	Saint Mary's	22
10	Denver	10

2026-27 Preseason All-WCC Team

Name	Year	Pos.	School
Dyani Ananiev	Sr.	G	Portland
Aina Cargol	So.	G	San Francisco
Florence Dallow	5th	G	Portland
Candy Edokpaigbe	Jr.	G	San Francisco
Lina Falk	Sr.	G	Pepperdine
Elli Guiney	Jr.	G	Pepperdine
Maya Hernandez	Sr.	F	LMU
Maia Jones	Gr.	G	Santa Clara
Kylie Ray	Jr.	G	San Diego
Ava Schmidt	Sr.	F	Santa Clara

Ticket information and the complete 2026-27 schedule are available at LMULions.com.

2026-27 Season Ticket Packages
Season tickets are now on sale, starting at less than $6 per game. Ticket holders enjoy premium benefits, including prime seating locations, the best per-game value, priority access to postseason tickets, and more.

• Courtside Seating: $199 (limited availability)
• Lower Bowl Reserved Seating: $79

To purchase any season ticket packages, click here, call (310) 338-4537, email favian.velasco@lmu.edu, or complete the online form to be contacted by the LMU Ticket Office.

Buy New 2026-27 Season Tickets

Returning Season Ticket Holders
Seats for season ticket holders from 2025-26 are being held, and an LMU Ticket Office representative will be in contact with you.

Free Tickets for LMU Faculty, Staff and Students
All regular-season LMU women's basketball home games and all LMU Athletics home events are free for current faculty, staff, and students with a valid OneCard.

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