Iowa was tabbed as the WER preseason favorite in the Big Ten women's basketball, taking home the top spot in the 2022-23 WER preseason poll as voted on by the WER Poll Committee.
The Hawkeyes return a plethora of talent from a year ago including all five starts that led the team to the Big Ten Tournament title and a share of the regular season Big Ten Championship. In addition, they added three freshman (Jada Gyamfi, Taylor McCabe, and Hannah Stuelke) that are ranked in the WER Top 100 player rankings.
Iowa tops the order of finish, with Maryland, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska, and Northwestern rounding out the top half the league. Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn State, Rutgers, and Illinois round out the bottom half.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark was voted as the World Exposure Report Big Ten Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year. Clark led the country in points per game (27.0), assists (8.0), and final points (863).
Joining Clark on the WER All-Big Ten Preseason First Team are Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana; Grace Berger, Indiana; Alexis Markowski, Nebraska; Monika Czinano, Iowa; Leigha Brown, Michigan; Makenna Marisa, Penn State; Diamond Miller, Maryland
The WER Preseason Second Team All-Big Ten is comprised of Abby Meyers, Maryland; Elisa Pinzan, Maryland; Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State; Taylor Mikesell, Ohio State; Theryn Hallock, Michigan State; Jaz Shelley, Nebraska; Shyanne Sellers, Maryland; Lavender Briggs, Maryland
2022-23 Big Ten Women's Basketball WER Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
1. Iowa (7) |
78 |
2. Maryland (5) |
68 |
3. Indiana |
62 |
4. Michigan |
61 |
5. Ohio State |
58 |
6. Nebraska |
50 |
7. Northwestern |
45 |
8. Michigan State |
43 |
9. Purdue |
29 |
10. Wisconsin |
27 |
11. Minnesota |
25 |
12. Penn State |
23 |
13. Rutgers |
20 |
14. Illinois |
15 |
Preseason Player of the Year
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Preseason Coach of the Year
Lisa Bluder, Iowa
Preseason Assistant Coach of the Year
Wesley Brooks, Ohio State
Preseason International Player of the Year
Elisa Pinza, Maryland
Preseason Junior College Transfer of the Year
Chanaya Pinto, Penn State
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Cotie McMahon, Ohio State
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana
Grace Berger, Indiana
Alexis Markowski, Nebraska
Monika Czinano, Iowa
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Leigha Brown, Michigan
Makenna Marisa, Penn State
Diamond Miller, Maryland
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Abby Meyers, Maryland
Elisa Pinzan, Maryland
Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State
Taylor Mikesell, Ohio State
Theryn Hallock, Michigan State
Jaz Shelley, Nebraska
Shyanne Sellers, Maryland
Lavender Briggs, Maryland
Freshman Watch List
Cotie McMahon, Ohio State
Lexus Bargesser, Indiana
Lily Krahn, Wisconsin
Hannah Stuelke, Iowa
Jada Gyamfi, Iowa
Callin Hake, Nebraska
Maggie Mendelson, Nebraska
Gia Cooke, Maryland
Antonia Bates, Rutgers
Theryn Hallock, Michigan State