The preseason polls are out, and Iowa State women’s basketball has some high expectations.
The Cyclone Women came through at No. 12 in the upcoming season’s AP Poll that was announced on Tuesday.
It’s the best preseason ranking the Cyclones have seen since they were No. 8 in the 2001-02 preseason poll, where they ended the season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The No. 12 mark also becomes the third highest start in the polls in Iowa State program history.
Four Cyclone opponents were also ranked in the opening Top 25: Baylor is No. 7, Iowa is No. 9, West Virginia comes in No. 19 and Texas is No. 25.
Iowa State could potentially face off with No. 20 UCLA in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Showcase so long as both teams make it there.
Four teams receiving votes – South Dakota State, LSU, and Big 12 foes Oklahoma State and Oklahoma – are also on the team’s schedule for the upcoming year.
The full AP Poll can be found below:
2021-22 WBB Preseason AP Poll
1. South Carolina (14)
2. UConn (10)
3. Stanford (5)
4. Maryland
5. NC State
6. Louisville
7. Baylor
8. Indiana
9. Iowa
10. Oregon
11. Michigan
12. Iowa State
13. Kentucky
14. Oregon State
15. Tennessee
16. Florida State
17. Ohio State
17. Georgia Tech
19. West Virginia
20. UCLA
21. South Florida
22. Arizona
23. Texas A&M
24. Virginia Tech
25. Texas
Others receiving votes: Georgia 65, Michigan State 63, Florida Gulf Coast 43, Missouri State 18, South Dakota 13, LSU 10, Arkansas 10, Washington State 9, Oklahoma State 8, Notre Dame 8, DePaul 6, Belmont 5, Oklahoma 3, South Dakota State 1
