Women's Basketball

James Madison Tops 2024-25 Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball head coaches have voted James Madison as the favorite to win the 2024-25 conference title.

After making their way to the conference title game last season, the Dukes return four players who started in more than half of the team's games. James Madison won 23 games during the 2023-24 season and earned entry into the WBIT.

James Madison received 12 first-place votes and 191 points and are followed by Troy who received two first-place votes and 169 points. Old Dominion (167), ULM (150) and Louisiana (122) round out the top five.
 
James Madison redshirt junior guard Peyton McDaniel was voted the Sun Belt’s Preseason Player of the Year. McDaniel was a 2024 All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team selection after leading the Dukes in scoring (15.1 ppg), rebounding (7.1), field goals (189), three-pointers (81) and steals (30).
 
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The Sun Belt also announced its Preseason All-Sun Belt First, Second and Third Teams. McDaniel was joined on the First Team by App State’s Emily Carver, Marshall’s Aislynn Hayes, Georgia State’s Crystal Henderson and Mikyla Tolivert and ULM’s Jakayla Johnson.

Johnson and Tolivert were both 2024 All-Sun Belt Third Team selections, while Henderson was the 2024 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.

The Sun Belt Conference will conduct its annual Women’s Basketball Media Day on Wednesday, October 16 via Zoom.
 
The regular season tips off Monday, November 4 with the second year and first round of the MAC-SBC Challenge. Each Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball program will play an 18-game league slate beginning in December.
 
The 2025 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Championship returns to the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Fla., March 4-10.

2024-25 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Awards
 
Preseason Player of the Year:
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Emily Carver, App State [Sr. | G | Asheville, N.C.]
Aislynn Hayes, Marshall [Sr. | G | Murfreesboro, Tenn.]
Crystal Henderson, Georgia State [So. | G | Marietta, Ga.]
Jakayla Johnson, ULM [Sr. | G | Clinton, Miss.]
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [Sr. | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
*Ties were not broken
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
En’Dya Buford, Old Dominion [Gr. | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
Melyia Grayson, Southern Miss [5th Yr. | C | Hattiesburg, Miss.]
Jaylyn James, Louisiana [Jr. | G | Madisonville, La.]
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-Sr. | C | Moscow, Russia]
Katlyn Manuel, ULM [Sr. | F | Lawtell, La.]
Shaulana Wagner, Troy [Sr. | G | Detriot, Mich.]
*Ties were not broken
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Ramsey Alancia, Coastal Carolina [So. | F | Delray Beach, Fla.]
Zay Dyer, Troy [Jr. | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Anna Griffin, Arkansas State [Sr. | G | Aurora, Ill]
Kelsey Thompson, Old Dominion [Jr. | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Ro Scott, James Madison [Gr. | G | Earle, Ark.]
 
2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll 
1. James Madison (12) – 191
2. Troy (2) – 169
3. Old Dominion - 167
4. ULM - 150
5. Louisiana - 122
6. Marshall - 118
7. Southern Miss - 113
8. Georgia State - 107
9. Coastal Carolina - 77
10. Texas State - 67
11. App State - 61
12. Georgia Southern - 53
13. Arkansas State - 50
14. South Alabama - 25
*Parentheses indicate first-place votes