NEW ORLEANS, La.- The South Alabama women's basketball team was picked to finish 14th in the Sun Belt preseason polls as announced by the league on Monday. 

South tallied 25 points, with Arkansas State in front of them with 50 and Georgia Southern with 53, respectively. James Madison earned the top spot with 191 points, 12 of which were first-place points, as Old Dominion followed behind with 167 for second place. 

South brings back veteran experience with players such as Jordan Rosier, Nadia Howard, Janelle Jones, Naomi Smitherman, Rachel Leggett, Michyah Simmons, and Chrysta Narcisse. South welcomes a talented newcomer class with players such as Aroa Mangas, Amyria Walker, Princess Okafor Nweze, Tara Green, Terren Coffil, Daniela Gonzalez, Alicia Spann, and Saneea Bevley. The Jags have a lot to prove in the 2024-25 campaign with high hopes for what is to come. 

Sun Belt play will kick off for South as they face Old Dominion in Virginia on December 29. South will close out conference play at the Mitchell Center against Texas State on February 28. 

The season will come to a close with the 2024-25 Sun Belt Women's Basketball Championship at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Fla. The tournament will run from March 4-10 with all games airing on ESPN +. 

The rest of the coaches' poll and the preseason All-Sun Belt teams are listed below. 

2024 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 [5^th 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
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