NEW ORLEANS — Defending regular season champion Loyola University New Orleans was picked to finish first in the Southern States Athletic Conference 2026-27 women's basketball preseason poll of the league's head coaches.
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The SSAC announced the poll Wednesday. It's the seventh straight year that the Loyola women were picked first.
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Loyola received 9-of-14 first-place votes and 191 points. William Carey is second with four first-place votes and 179 points. Faulkner is third with one first-place vote and 169 points.
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"Being picked at the top of the SSAC is a testament to the standard we've built here," said Kellie Kennedy, the 2025-26 SSAC Coach of the Year. "Coming off a regular season championship last year, our expectations haven't changed. We return a strong group and have also added some talented newcomers who know what it takes to win and handle the day-to-day grind. We embrace this challenge for the 26-27 season and look forward to competing in such a strong league."
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Loyola this past season was 25-5, ranked 16th in final NAIA coaches poll, set a school record with a 17-game winning streak and reached the second round of NAIA nationals. It was the Wolf Pack's 13th consecutive trip to NAIA nationals and the 12th time in 13 seasons to reach 20 victories.
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Loyola's returning players from last season include:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Alissa O'Dell, a 6-foot senior forward/center who in 2025-26 was WBCA NAIA All-America (one of 10 selected), NAIA All-America third team, SSAC Player of the Year, All-SSAC first team, SSAC Championship all-tournament and All-Louisiana first team. O'Dell averaged 16 points and 8.2 rebounds per game and became the first player to lead the Loyola women in scoring and rebounding as a junior and sophomore.
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• Caitlin Travis, a 5-6 senior guard who was All-SSAC first team in 2025-26 and on the league's Athletic Solutions All-Academic team. Travis averaged 11.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.Â
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• Chandler Caver, a 5-8 sophomore point guard who was SSAC Freshman of the Year and on the All-SSAC Freshman team. Caver averaged 5.3 points and 3.2 assists and was the second freshman in 24 seasons to lead Loyola in assists.
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• Tiarra McPipe, a 5-9 sophomore forward who was on the All-SSAC Freshman team. McPipe averaged 6.4 points and 4.8 rebounds.Â
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Kennedy is in her 19th season at Loyola. Her record with the Wolf Pack is 406-136 (.749), including 14 20-win seasons.Â
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The Wolf Pack will open the season at 3 p.m. Oct. 24 against Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio, Texas. The next week Loyola will play road exhibitions against two NCAA Division I opponents: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at neighbor Tulane and 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at LSU. The second regular season game and home opener will tip off at 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at The Den against College of Biblical Studies (Houston, Texas).
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SSAC Women's Basketball 2026-27 Coaches Poll
1. Loyola . . . 191 points, nine first-place votes
2. William Carey . . . 179 points, four first-place votes
3. Faulkner . . . 169 points, one first-place vote
4. Tennessee Southern . . . 141 points
5. (tie) Life . . . 135 points
5. (tie) Xavier (N.O.) . . . 135 points
7. Blue Mountain Christian . . . 106 points
8. Brewton-Parker Christian . . . 97 points
9. Mobile . . . 86 points
10. Thomas (Ga.) . . . 82 points
11. Abraham Baldwin . . . 52 points
12. Point . . . 42 points
13. Andrew . . . 32 points
14. Wesleyan (Ga.) . . . 23 points
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Loyola Women's Basketball in SSACÂ Coaches Polls
2026-27 — 1st
2025-26 — 1st
2024-25 — 1st
2023-24 — 1st
2022-23 — 1st
2021-22 — 1st
2020-21 — 1st
2019-20 — 2nd
2018-19 — 1st
2017-18 — 2nd
2016-17 — 2nd
2015-16 — 2nd
2014-15 — 1st
2013-14 — 6th
2012-13 — 3rd
2011-12 — 4th (tie)
2010-11 — 4th
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