Illinois Wesleyan University has been named the preseason favorite to win the 2025–26 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s basketball championship. The results were announced Friday following the annual coaches’ poll conducted by the league office.
The poll ranked Illinois Wesleyan at the top, with the Titans receiving six first-place votes and 62 total points among the nine teams. This marks the second year in a row that Illinois Wesleyan has been chosen as the preseason favorite. Last season, the Titans won both the CCIW regular-season and tournament championships, finishing with a 24-6 record and reaching the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
Carroll University was ranked second in the poll, securing three first-place votes and 59 points. The Pioneers finished last season with 18 wins and appeared in the CCIW Tournament championship game for the second consecutive year.
Elmhurst was selected third with 38 points. Carthage and Wheaton tied for fourth, each earning 37 points. North Central placed sixth with 35 points, followed by Augustana with 30, Millikin with 18, and North Park with 8 points.
