MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan women's basketball team has been picked to finish second in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Preseason Poll, announced by the league on Tuesday.

2025-26 GLIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1.   Grand Valley State - 100 (10)
2.   Northern Michigan - 87
3.   Ferris State - 84 (1)
4.   Parkside - 72
5.   Wayne State - 66
6.   Michigan Tech - 48
7.   Saginaw Valley State - 46
8.   Roosevelt - 43
9.   Davenport - 25
10. Lake Superior State - 21
11. Purdue Northwest - 13

The Wildcats sit just behind Grand Valley State, which earned 100 points and 10 first-place votes. NMU follows with 87 points, narrowly edging out Ferris State's 84-point total. The Bulldogs received the remaining first-place vote.

Northern also finished in second a season ago following a 15-5 mark in GLIAC play. The 'Cats return a dozen players from last season's NCAA Tournament team, including senior standouts Jacy Weisbrod and Sarah Newcomer. Weisbrod earned All-GLIAC First Team honors a year ago, while Newcomer was named to the Second Team. They'll be joined by five newcomers, four freshmen and one transfer, as the Wildcats look to build on back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament and extend their season beyond the Round of 32.

Now entering her fourth season at the helm, head coach Casey Thousand holds a 60-32 (.652) overall record, including a 38-18 mark in GLIAC play. With depth, experience, and a proven leader guiding the program, Northern Michigan is poised to once again compete among the league's best in 2025-26.

More from the GLIAC can be found here.