Kansas City, Mo – Missouri Southern was tabbed at the No. 1 spot in both the MIAA preseason women's basketball coaches' poll as well as the media poll for the 2022-23 season. Missouri Southern won a share of the MIAA regular season championship last season for the first time ever. Fort Hays State also won a share of that title. FHSU was picked to finish second in the conference by both the coaches and media polls.
 
The Northwest Missouri State women were picked to finish sixth in the MIAA media poll and seventh in the MIAA coaches poll. This is the highest MIAA preseason ranking in a decade for the Bearcats. Last season, Northwest was picked to finish ninth in both polls. The women ended up with a sixth place regular season finish and a 12-10 conference record.
 
The Northwest women return four of their top five scorers from last season including redshirt Sophomore Molly Hartnett, Sophomore Peyton Kelderman, Sophomore Evelyn Vazquez, and Junior Paityn Rau.
 
The first games of the season for the women will take place Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12 in Kearney, Neb. The first conference game of the season will take place Thursday, December 1. The complete schedule for each team in the conference can be found here.
 
Coaches Poll
 
In the coaches poll, Missouri Southern received six first-place votes for a total of 159 points. Fort Hays State was eight points behind the Lions and received three first-place votes. Nebraska-Kearney was tabbed third with two first-place votes and 144 points. Five points behind UNK was Missouri Western with three first place votes. All of the top-four teams qualified for the 2022 NCAA DII Central Region Tournament. Central Missouri rounded out the top-five with 127 points.
 
Emporia State was voted sixth followed by Northwest Missouri in seventh. Pittsburg State was voted eighth, Central Oklahoma came in at ninth, and Washburn was voted tenth. Rogers state was voted 11^th, Northeastern State was 12^th, Newman was 13^th, and Lincoln completed the poll at 14^th.
 
2022-21 MIAA Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Missouri Southern [6] – 159 points
2. Fort Hays State [3] – 151
3. Nebraska Kearney [2] – 144 Points
4. Missouri Western [3] – 139 Points
5. Central Missouri – 127 Points
6. Emporia State – 106 Points
7. Northwest Missouri – 100 Points
8. Pittsburg State – 85 Points
9. Central Oklahoma – 74 Points
10. Washburn – 62 Points
11. Rogers State – 50 Points
12. Northeastern State – 31 Points
13. Newman – 28 Points
14. Lincoln – 18 Points
 
Media Poll
 
The media poll had Missouri Southern in first place with thirteen first place votes and 249 points. Fort Hays State received four first place votes and 234 points. The media had Central Missouri in third with three first place votes and 218 points, and Nebraska-Kearney in fourth place with 216 points. Missouri Western was tabbed at fifth with 211 points.
 
Northwest Missouri was voted sixth followed by Emporia State (7^th), Pittsburg State (8^th), Central Oklahoma (9^th), and Washburn (10^th). Rogers State was voted eleventh, Northeastern State was voted twelfth, and Lincoln and Newman tied at thirteen.
 
2022-23 MIAA Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
1. Missouri Southern [13] – 249 Points
2. Fort Hays State [4] – 234 Points
3. Central Missouri [3] – 218 Points
4. Nebraska Kearney – 216 Points
5. Missouri Western – 211 Points
6. Northwest Missouri – 164 Points
7. Emporia State – 145 Points
8. Pittsburg State – 129 Points
9. Central Oklahoma – 127 Points
10. Washburn – 108 Points
11. Rogers State – 74 Points
12. Northeastern State – 57 Points
T13. Lincoln – 31 Points
T13. Newman – 31 Points