NEW YORK | Coming off a Skyline Conference championship season, the United States Merchant Marine Academy has been selected as the favorite in the league's 2026-27 women's basketball preseason coaches' poll. The Mariners, who finished tied atop the regular-season standings with an 18-2 conference record before capturing the Skyline title with a 63-59 victory over Manhattanville, received 100 points and 10 first-place votes from the league's head coaches. 

Mount Saint Mary, which finished third in the regular season before falling to Merchant Marine in the championship semifinals, placed second in the poll with 91 points and one first-place vote. Manhattanville, last year's regular-season co-champion and championship runner-up, followed in third with 84 points. St. Joseph's-Long Island (68) and Farmingdale State (67) rounded out the top five.

Sarah Lawrence landed sixth with 47 points, followed by Mount Saint Vincent (41). Purchase and St. Joseph's-Brooklyn tied for eighth with 40 points apiece, while Yeshiva (18) and Old Westbury (9) rounded out the poll.

2026-27 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Rank, School, Pts. (First-Place Votes)
1. Merchant Marine, 100 (10)
2. Mount Saint Mary, 91 (1)    
3. Manhattanville, 84    
4. St. Joseph's-Long Island, 68    
5. Farmingdale State, 67    
6. Sarah Lawrence, 47    
7. Mount Saint Vincent, 41    
T8. Purchase, 40    
T8. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn, 40    
10. Yeshiva, 18    
11. Old Westbury, 9