SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- As the 2021-22 college basketball season draws closer, the West Coast Conference released its preseason poll and all-conference preseason selections based on voting from the league's head coaches. The San Francisco Dons women's basketball team is picked to finish fourth in the WCC, the highest preseason ranking for the program under head coach
Molly Goodenbour. Redshirt sophomore
Ioanna Krimili was also selected to the conference's all-preseason team following her historic freshman season on the Hilltop.
During Goodenbour's first five seasons on the Hilltop, her teams have finished higher than the preseason poll four times.
"We enter WCC play this season with a different perspective than a year ago," Goodenbour said. "Our team made tremendous progress last season and I think that the experience they gained will be valuable as we head into WCC play this season. Being placed fourth places some expectations on us and hopefully we will have a group that takes that to heart and rises to the occasion."
Krimili was selected for the WCC's preseason team following her stellar freshman season that culminated in her being awarded the conference's Newcomer of the Year. Krimili made her mark on the program by breaking USF's record for most three point shots made in a season with 97, at a very efficient 46% from beyond the arc, leading the conference and the Dons in points, points per game and minutes played a season ago.
Krimili was the only sophomore picked for the preseason team and the first Don to make the preseason team since Anna Seilund prior to the 2017-18 season. The Heraclion, Greece native solidified herself as the preeminent outside shooter in the conference and a player that team's will have to work hard to try and contain.
"Io is one of the best players in the league and one of the top shooters in the country," Goodenbour said. "I am pleased that she was selected to the preseason all conference team. I know she is excited to start the new season."
BYU was picked to finish first in the conference, breaking Gonzaga's eight-year run at the top of the poll. The Cougars also feature the most all-preseason team selections with three.
USF opens the regular season at War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center on Saturday Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. against Morgan State and will then play four days later at the Chase Center against California for a neutral site matchup.
The Dons will open WCC action just before the new year as they travel to Spokane to take on Gonzaga Dec. 29, followed by the conference home opener on New Year's Day against Santa Clara. Tip off times for conference games are still being determined.
Single game and season tickets for USF women's basketball are now available and can be purchased here.
The full 2021-22 WCC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll and All-WCC Women's Basketball Preseason Team can be viewed below:
2021-22 WCC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Place |
Team |
First Place |
Points |
| 1. |
BYU |
8 |
80 |
| 2. |
Gonzaga |
2 |
72 |
| 3. |
San Diego |
|
66 |
| 4. |
San Francisco |
|
53 |
| 5. |
Portland |
|
51 |
| 6. |
Santa Clara |
|
40 |
| 7. |
Saint Mary's |
|
32 |
| 8. |
LMU |
|
26 |
| 9. |
Pepperdine |
|
16 |
| 10. |
Pacific |
|
14 |
| 2021-22 All-WCC Women's Basketball Preseason Team |
| Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
| Ioanna Krimili |
So. |
G |
San Francisco |
| Jordyn Edwards |
Sr. |
G |
San Diego |
| Alex Fowler |
Jr. |
F |
Portland |
| Shaylee Gonzales |
Jr. |
G |
BYU |
| Lauren Gustin |
Jr. |
F |
BYU |
| Paisley Harding |
Sr. |
G |
BYU |
| Melody Kempton |
Sr. |
F |
Gonzaga |
| Haylee Andrews |
Sr. |
G |
Portland |
| Myah Pace |
Sr. |
G |
San Diego |
| Merle Wiehl |
Sr. |
F |
Santa Clara |
For updates and more information on the USF women's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsWBB on Twitter, @USFDonsWBB on Instagram and @USFDonsWBB on Facebook.
