October 14, 2026 | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team has been selected fourth in the Big South Conference Preseason Poll, announced by the league office, while sophomore guard Makayla Legette earned a spot on the Preseason All-Big South Second Team.
The Runnin' Bulldogs enter the 2026-27 campaign looking to build on a strong conference showing last season, when Gardner-Webb recorded nine Big South victories. The fourth-place preseason selection reflects the team's position heading into another competitive season in the league.
Defending Big South champion High Point shares the top spot in the preseason poll with Radford, while Longwood was selected third ahead of Gardner-Webb in fourth. UNC Asheville and Winthrop tied for fifth, followed by USC Upstate in seventh. Presbyterian was picked eighth, with Charleston Southern rounding out the poll in ninth.
Legette represents Gardner-Webb on the Preseason All-Big South Second Team after contributing across the board during her sophomore campaign. The Latta, S.C., native averaged 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while recording 47 steals. She also averaged 29 minutes per contest, providing a consistent presence in the Runnin' Bulldogs' lineup.
The full poll as well as the preseason all-conference teams are listed below.
2026-27 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Rk                        Team (first-place votes) 1           2            3            4               5            6            7            8               9            Points
              T-1.       High Point (4)                               4            4            1            -            -              -            -            -            -              75
              T-1.       Radford (4)                                   4            4            1            -            -              -            -            -            -              75
              3.          Longwood                                     -            1            7            1            -              -            -            -            -              63
              4.          Gardner-Webb                             -            -            -            2              5            -            2            -            -              43
              T-5.       UNC Asheville (1)                        1            -            -            2            -              3            2            1            -              41
              T-5.       Winthrop                                       -            -            -            2              1            6            -            -            -              41
              7.          USC Upstate                                -            -            -            2              2            -            4            1            -              36
              8.          Presbyterian College                 -            -            -            -              1            -            -            5              3            18
              9.          Charleston Southern                 -            -            -            -            -              -            1            2            6              13
Â
Note: points are based on a weighted system. First-place votes received 9 points, followed by 8 points for second-place, and so on.
2026-27 Big South Conference Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
First-Team
Georgia Simonsen, Radford (Preseason Player of the Year)
Madison Ruff, Winthrop
Aubrie Kierscht, USC Upstate
Jesstynie Scott, Longwood
Jamaria Freeman, UNC Asheville
Second-Team
Makayla Legette, Gardner-Webb
Cate Carlson, Radford
Grace Booth, USC Upstate
Taylor Feldman, High Point
Juliann Woodard, High Point (tie)
Krystal Haddock, Presbyterian (tie)
