10/20/2026 12:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team is ranked No. 5 in the preseason Associated Press poll released on Tuesday (Oct. 20). It is the highest preseason ranking in program history and marks just the second season in which Michigan has earned a top-five ranking.=.
After finishing ranked No. 7 following last year's run to the Elite Eight, Michigan is at No. 5 to start the 2026-27 season. It is the first time U-M has been in the top five since checking in at No. 4 on Feb. 7, 2022. The No. 5 ranking is the best preseason ranking ever, topping the No. 11 ranking to start the 2021-22 season.
U-M will host No. 2 UConn to start the season on Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m., marking the first-ever top-five women's basketball game at Crisler Center.
Michigan returns its top five scorers from last season's Elite Eight team in Olivia Olson (18.9 ppg), Syla Swords (14.6 ppg), Mila Holloway (12.3 ppg), Te'Yala Delfosse (8.7 ppg) and Ashley Sofilkanich (7.7 ppg).
J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Women's Basketball Coach Kim Barnes Arico enters her 15th season in Ann Arbor after leading Michigan to 28 wins last season and eclipsing 300 wins on the sidelines in Ann Arbor.
