In a very close vote, Cal State LA edged out Cal State San Marcos as the favorites in the CCAA Women's Basketball Preseason Poll.
 
Cal State LA earned 135 points and six first-place votes to finish one point ahead of Cal State San Marcos as the 2023-24 preseason favorites. CSUSM collected four first-place votes and 134 points in the poll. Defending CCAA regular-season championships, Cal State Dominguez Hills finished third in the poll with the two remaining first-place votes and 123 points. Chico State (93 points), Cal Poly Pomona (89), and Sonoma State (81) rounded out the top half of the poll.

 

2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Cal State LA (6)	135
Cal State San Marcos (4)	134
Cal State Dominguez Hills (2)	123
Chico State	93
Cal Poly Pomona	89
Sonoma State	81
Cal State East Bay	67
Cal State San Bernardino	65
Stanislaus State	54
Cal Poly Humboldt	43
Cal State Monterey Bay	27
San Francisco State	25
First-place votes in paranthesis

The Golden Eagles (20-10, 16-6 CCAA) are expected to return their top five scorers from last season, including 2022-23 first team All-CCAA selections Lily Buggs (15.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and Nicole Flennaugh (15.4 ppg, .365 3pt%), and starters Raya Smith (6.8) and Nevaeh Asiasi (7.1 ppg). Last season, Cal State LA won 20 games for just the fourth time in program history. It advanced to the CCAA semifinals for the second consecutive season and earned its first NCAA regional bid since 2012. This year, they added a pair of All-CCAA transfers from Cal Poly Pomona (Alicia Jones & Donja Payne) as they look to build upon the momentum of last season.
 
Cal State San Marcos has taken home CCAA Championships each of the past three seasons. After winning the regular season titles in 2019-20 and 2021-22, the Cougars broke through and won their first CCAA Tournament Championship in 2022-23. They return three former All-CCAA selections to their starting lineup in Jordan Vasquez (11.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg), Charity Gallegos (11.8 ppg, 3.3 apg), and Mina Tameilau (8.0 ppg, 4.5 rbg). Gallegos was voted the MVP of last year's CCAA Tournament, and she closed out the season by averaging 23.2 points on .517 percent shooting over five postseason games. CSUSM has won at least 20 games in three straight seasons.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills' 2022-23 season was the best in program history. CSUDH won a school-record 31 games, the CCAA regular season title, and the NCAA West Region Championship. The Toros rebuilt their team identity on toughness, and they will turn to the depth and experience gained last season as they continue to build the brand. Last year, they ranked in the top 15 in NCAA Div. II in scoring (77.1 ppg), rebounding margin (7.9), and steals per game (12.3). Dominguez Hills will bring back two-time All-CCAA first team selection Asia Jordan (12.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and 2022-23 CCAA Freshman of the Year Nala Williams (13.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.6 spg), along with honorable mention selections Danyell Booker (8.0 ppb, 4.2 rpg) and Joe'l Benoit (7.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg).
 
Second team All-CCAA selections Zhane Duckett and Brandy Huffhines return to lead Chico State. The senior duo paired up as the starting backcourt last season and led the Wildcats to a 14-8 record in conference and an 18-11 mark overall. Huffhines paced the team in scoring with 11.2 ppg, and Duckett was right behind at 11.0 ppg. They also helped the team lead the CCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.91) and finish second in free throw percentage (.756). Chico is also expected to bring back four student-athletes that saw minutes in their rotation, including fifth-leading scorer Makenzi LaPorta (7.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg).
 
Cal Poly Pomona earned 89 points in the poll after going 18-11 (14-8 CCAA) and reaching the semifinals of the CCAA Tournament. Guards Breanne Ha (9.4 ppg) and Kalaya Buggs (8.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) give the Broncos two returning starters with lots of experience. Buggs started all last season, and Ha has been in the starting lineup since 2021-22. After missing the playoffs that season, CPP returned to the CCAA Tournament and NCAA Regional last year. It will look to build on that momentum, but it will have to rely on its young talent, as nine of the 14 roster spots are occupied by first- and second-year students.
 
Sonoma State will be looking to earn a spot in the CCAA Tournament for the seventh consecutive season. Last season, the Seawolves went 16-13 (13-9 CCAA), which included winning four of its final five games to clinch the No. 6 seed in the CCAA Tournament. Leading scorer Alli McDonald (13.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and assist-leader Jayme Blackard (6.2 ppg, 2.2 apg) are the two returning starters for SSU. McDonald was one of just five student-athletes in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding. She led the CCAA and ranked 17th nationally with a .893 free throw percentage.
 
Cal State East Bay (67), Cal State San Bernardino (65), and Stanislaus State (54) hold the seventh through ninth spots in the preseason poll.
 
Cal State East Bay battled for a tournament spot till the final weekend of the season by winning six of their last eight games. They fell just short, finishing the CCAA regular season at 11-11 (14-12 overall). The Pioneers will look to return to the CCAA postseason after missing out for the first time since 2011. Jaela Richardson was another one of the handful of student-athletes ranked among the CCAA's scoring and rebounding leaders. The senior forward averaged 14.1 points (fifth CCAA) and 6.7 rebounds (10th). She was also second in field goal percentage (.503) and blocks (1.19). Richardson is one of three returning starters.
 
Cal State San Bernardino went 14-14 in 2022-23 (9-13 CCAA). The Yotes will bring back five starters from that team, including All-CCAA selection Destiny Jackson (13.4 ppg, 1.8 spg). Last season, CSUSB defended its home court with a 10-7 record. It held opponents to a CCAA-best (17th NCAA) .267 percent mark from 3-point range, and Kennedy Lindsey led the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.33) as a sophomore. Mia Dufresne is also the leading shot blocker in the CCAA, with 1.21 rejections per game.
 
Stanislaus State will return experienced student-athletes all over the court. Four of the five starters and five of their top six scorers are back for the Warriors. Joia Armstrong is back in the middle after helping the Warriors lead the conference in blocked shots last season. She averages 1.11 blocks per game, and her team paces the league with 3.8 per game. The Warriors added All-CCAA guard Mya Blake (13.7 ppg, 2.9 apg) as a transfer from SF State.
 
Cal Poly Humboldt (43), Cal State Monterey Bay (27), and San Francisco State (25) complete the 2023-24 CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll. Humboldt will bring back two-time All-CCAA first team selection Madison Parry (16.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg) as the only all-conference selection among the group.
 
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The 2023-24 season will begin on Friday, Nov. 10. Ten CCAA women's basketball teams will play on opening day, with all 12 playing within the first week. The teams will try to earn one of the six bids to the CCAA Women's Basketball Tournament starting Thursday, March 7, in San Bernardino. For more information, click here.