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Women's Basketball

LMU Women’s Basketball Caps Historic Season with No. 25 National Ranking

BOSTON, MA - LMU women's basketball closed the book on one of the most historic seasons in program history with a final statement of national recognition, earning the No. 25 spot in the CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top 25 Poll to conclude the 2025-26 campaign.

The ranking serves as a fitting finish for a year that saw the Lions not only rise to the top of the West Coast Conference, but firmly establish themselves on the national stage. LMU was one of just two WCC programs represented in the final poll, alongside Gonzaga at No. 13, further highlighting the significance of the accomplishment.

This recognition comes on the heels of a season defined by milestones, resilience, and a complete reshaping of the program's trajectory.

The Lions captured the WCC Regular Season Championship outright, finishing with a program-best 15-3 conference record, while totaling 21 overall wins, tied for the second-most in program history. Along the way, LMU put together a nine-game winning streak, its longest since the program's 2003-04 championship season, and delivered one of the year's defining moments by snapping a 35-game losing streak to Gonzaga, earning its first win over the Bulldogs since 2008.

LMU's success extended beyond the regular season, as the Lions earned a berth in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) – marking just the fourth postseason appearance in program history and the first since 2019. In a hard-fought postseason battle, LMU pushed Stanford to the brink before falling 80-76, a performance that further showcased the team's growth and competitiveness on a national stage.

What made the season even more remarkable was the path it took to get there.

Picked ninth in the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Lions far exceeded expectations, building momentum from the previous year and carrying it throughout the season. Despite navigating early nonconference challenges and injuries that sidelined key contributors, LMU posted a resilient 6-5 mark in nonconference play before surging in conference action.

Individually, the Lions also made their mark, earning First Team All-WCC honors for the first time since 2018-19, and placing two players on the All-WCC First Team for the first time since 2003-04 – a rare achievement accomplished only six times in program history.

From start to finish, the 2025-26 season was about more than wins, it was about transformation.

LMU didn't just compete; they elevated expectations, redefined their identity, and laid the foundation for sustained success. The final No. 25 national ranking stands as both recognition of what this team accomplished and a signal of what the program is becoming.

The Lions close the season not only as champions, but as one of the nation's top mid-major programs – recognized, respected, and just getting started.
 
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