ST. LOUIS -- The Belmont women's basketball team has been picked to win the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference crown. The preseason poll, as voted on by Valley head coaches, communications directors and a media panel, was unveiled on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

The Bruins received 25 of 44 possible first-place votes and 446 points. Defending MVC regular-season and tournament champions, Murray State, was picked to finish second with 13 first-place votes and 436 total points. Illinois State finished third in the voting with a pair of first-place votes and 387 points, while Drake gathered four first-place nods and 371 total points to round out the league's favorites.