By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
LILBURN, Ga. – Fort Hays State Women’s Basketball will open the 2021-22 season ranked No. 4 nationally as the WBCA released its Preseason Top 25 on Tuesday (Nov. 2). This is the highest start in the WBCA Top 25 Poll for the Tigers in program history after receiving a No. 7 ranking in the 2019-20 Preseason Top 25 Poll.
Fort Hays State and Central Missouri are the two programs from the MIAA listed in the Top 25. The Jennies open the year tied for sixth. Nebraska-Kearney and Emporia State, which competed in the Central Regional of the NCAA Tournament last year along with FHSU and UCM, are both among the teams receiving votes.
This is the 10th straight season the Tigers have been recognized in the national polls, and 11th year overall. The Tigers are 110-31 all-time when ranked in the WBCA Top 25, including a 106-30 mark under Tony Hobson.
This marks the fourth season the Tigers have been referenced inside the Top 25 of a preseason poll.
Fort Hays State plays an exhibition contest at NCAA Division I powerhouse UConn on Sunday (Nov. 7) at noon (1 pm ET) before traveling to St. Joseph, Mo. to open the regular season against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Friday, November 12.
Below is the WBCA Preseason Top 25.
| Rank | School (2020-21 Record) | Total | 2020-21 | First- |
| Points | Final | Place | ||
| Rank | Votes | |||
| 1 | Lubbock Christian (23-0) | 547 | 1 | 20 |
| 2 | Drury (24-2) | 524 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Lander (20-2) | 465 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Fort Hays State (22-4) | 408 | 10 | 0 |
| 5 | Azusa Pacific (12-5) | 356 | 16 | 0 |
| T6 | Central Missouri (23-5) | 339 | 4 | 0 |
| T6 | North Georgia (18-2) | 339 | 6 | 0 |
| 8 | Ashland (16-9) | 326 | 20 | 0 |
| 9 | Gannon (13-1) | 311 | 26 | 0 |
| 10 | Texas A&M-Commerce (14-4) | 307 | 17 | 0 |
| 11 | Tampa (7-0) | 305 | NR | 0 |
| 12 | Alaska Anchorage (3-0) | 267 | NR | 0 |
| 13 | Stonehill (0-0) | 257 | NR | 0 |
| 14 | Glenville State (12-4) | 235 | 23 | 0 |
| 15 | Valdosta State (18-4) | 173 | 13 | 0 |
| 16 | Southwestern Oklahoma State (18-4) | 171 | 15 | 0 |
| 17 | Charleston, WV (19-3) | 155 | 5 | 0 |
| 18 | Minnesota Duluth (14-2) | 150 | 12 | 0 |
| 19 | Union, TN (19-6) | 147 | 22 | 0 |
| 20 | Daemen (14-3) | 125 | 8 | 0 |
| 21 | Carson-Newman (15-4) | 124 | 24 | 0 |
| 22 | Bentley (0-0) | 93 | NR | 0 |
| T23 | Colorado Mines (17-3) | 89 | 21 | 0 |
| T23 | Truman State (17-5) | 89 | 27 | 0 |
| T25 | Belmont Abbey (22-3) | 80 | 7 | 0 |
| T25 | Hawaii Pacific (13-1) | 80 | 14 | 0 |
Receiving Votes: Michigan Tech (20-2) 59; Nebraska Kearney (23-4) 58; Indiana, PA (0-0) 57; Arkansas Tech (14-2) 51; Western Washington (6-0) 47; Tuskegee (12-2) 44; Barton (13-3) 41; Grand Valley State (14-6) 40; West Texas A&M (15-6) 40; Benedict (12-3) 30; Lee, TN (15-8) 24; Tusculum (19-4) 23; Augustana, SD (12-5) 20; Southeastern Oklahoma State (13-8) 17; University of the Sciences (0-0) 16; Texas A&M International (11-5) 15; Emporia State (18-7) 8; Walsh (17-7)