October 21, 2026
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dakota State (S.D.) women's basketball will begin the 2026-27 season nationally ranked in the Gared-NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, announced Wednesday by the national office.
The Trojans produced the highest ranking in program history at No. 3. In addition, it is the highest ranking since Dakota State joined the NAIA Division I era.
DSU's previous highest ranking was No. 4 during the 2025-26 season. The Trojans were also ranked as high as No. 5 during the NAIA Division II era in 2007-08 season.
The Trojans are coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, finishing 2025-26 with a 30-6 overall record and advancing to the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship semifinals.
Dakota State captured the Frontier Conference regular-season championship in its first season as a member of the expanded 12-team league, posting a 19-3 conference record. The Trojans also extended their streak of conference regular-season championships to six consecutive seasons, including five straight titles in the former North Star Athletic Association.
DSU averaged 82.5 points per game during the 2025-26 campaign, including a Frontier Conference-leading 80.5 points per game in league play.
The Trojans were also selected as the favorite to win the 2026-27 Frontier Conference regular-season championship in Monday's coaches' preseason poll. Dakota State received eight first-place votes and 117 points.
Defending national champion Marian (Ind.) holds the No. 1 position in the NAIA national preseason poll after winning last season's national championship. Dakota State and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) were the other two semifinalists from the 2026 national tournament highlighted in the preseason announcement.
Dakota State opens its 2026-27 campaign Saturday and Sunday at the Northwest Crossover Classic in Spokane, Wash. The Trojans face a pair of Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) teams, Walla Walla (Wash.) Saturday and No. 23 ranked Oregon Tech Sunday. Both games are scheduled for 10 p.m. Central Time (8 p.m. Pacific Time).
DSU's non-conference schedule will feature four ranked teams before the Frontier Conference play begins, including OIT on Sunday. The Trojans will face three ranked teams inside the NAIA's Top 10 from the Great Plains Athletic Conference, No. 2 ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and No. 10 ranked Concordia (Neb.) in the Cattle Classic on Nov. 6-7, followed by No. 7 ranked Dordt (Iowa) at the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Nov. 10.
