FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 2, 2026) – A new era of Big Sky women's basketball is set to tipoff on Monday as Southern Utah and Utah Tech bring the league to 11-full time members during the 2026-27 campaign.
Big Sky Women's Basketball Weekly Notebook (Week One)
Below are the latest news and notes from around the Big Sky.
Bobcats Sweep Preseason Honors
Montana State headlines the Big Sky Women’s Basketball Preseason Polls and Awards ahead of the 2026-27 season, as the Bobcats were selected to win the league by both the coaches and media, while reigning conference MVP Taylee Chirrick earned Preseason MVP honors, the conference office announced.
Montana State returns 10 players to the lineup from last season’s squad, which finished 27-8 overall and 16-2 in Big Sky play. Leading the Bobcats is Chirrick, the reigning Big Sky MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, who enters her third season in Bozeman. Through her first two seasons, Chirrick has averaged 12.7 points per game while shooting nearly 43% from the floor. A two-time All-Big Sky Defensive Team selection, Chirrick has also totaled 251 steals in 66 career games.
Defending Big Sky champion Idaho was picked second in both preseason polls after a historic 2025-26 campaign that saw the Vandals finish 29-5 overall, 17-1 in conference action, and sweep the league’s regular-season and tournament titles. Idaho returns reigning Big Sky Tournament MVP and Preseason All-Conference selection Hope Hassmann, who averaged 14.2 points per game last season for the Vandals.
Northern Colorado rounded out the Top 3 in both preseason polls after finishing third in the Big Sky standings last season. The Bears are coming off a 23-win campaign and return key contributors Heather Baymon, Neenah George and Tatum West, who combined for more than 1,200 points and 500 rebounds last season.
Eastern Washington and Southern Utah rounded out the top five in both preseason polls, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. The Eagles are led by Kourtney Grossman and Elyn Bowers, while the Thunderbirds are led by Ava Uhrich. All three players were named Preseason All-Conference selections on Wednesday.
Big Sky Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Taylee Chirrick, Montana State (Preseason MVP)
Hope Hassmann, Idaho
Kourtney Grossman, Eastern Washington
Addison Harris, Montana State
Ava Uhrich, Southern Utah
Avery Waddington, Montana
Elyn Bowers, Eastern Washington
2026-27 Big Sky Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Montana State (9) – 99
2. Idaho (2) – 90
3. Northern Colorado – 76
4. Eastern Washington – 71
5. Southern Utah – 67
6. Montana – 54
7. Idaho State – 49
8. Weber State- 32
9. Portland State – 30
10. Northern Arizona – 27
11. Utah Tech – 10
() – Denotes First-Place Votes
2026-27 Big Sky Women’s Basketball Preseason Media Poll
1. Montana State (23) – 283
2. Idaho (3) – 254
3. Northern Colorado – 214
4. Eastern Washington – 197
5. Southern Utah – 173
6. Idaho State – 157
7. Montana – 149
8. Northern Arizona – 110
9. Weber State – 70
10. Portland State – 63
11. Utah Tech - 46
() – Denotes First-Place Votes
Southern Utah and Utah Tech Join the Big Sky in 2026
Southern Utah and Utah Tech were officially welcomed as members of the Big Sky Conference this past summer, as the addition of the Thunderbirds and Trailblazers give the Big Sky 11 women's basketball squads for the 2026-27 season. The 2026-27 season will mark SUU’s return to the Big Sky after being a women's basketball member from 2012-21, while the year will be UTU’s inaugural season in the league.
Starch Madness
The 2027 Big Sky Basketball Championships in Boise, Idaho will take place from March 5-10 inside Idaho Central Arena. Visit
StarchMadness.com for more details.
2026-27 Big Sky Women's Basketball Schedule (Week 1)
Monday, Nov. 2
Black Hills State at Montana State // 11:00 a.m. MT (ESPN+)
Life Pacific at Utah Tech // 11:00 a.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saint Martin's at Idaho // 12:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Hastings at Northern Colorado // 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
University of Redlands at Southern Utah // 5:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Pepperdine at Portland State // 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Tuesday, Nov. 3
Eastern Washington at Utah // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Westminster at Weber State // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State at BYU // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana Western at Montana // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Thursday, Nov. 5
Northern Arizona at Arizona State // 6:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Friday, Nov. 6
Southern Utah at New Mexico State // 11:00 a.m. MT (ESPN+)
UC Davis at Eastern Washington // 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Cal Baptist at Utah Tech // 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Portland State at Boise State // 6:30 p.m. MT (Youtube)
Idaho at Gonzaga // 7:00 p.m. (Youtube)
Westminster at Idaho State // 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Saturday, Nov. 7
Montana at BYU // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Denver at Weber State // 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Colorado at Texas // 6:00 p.m. (SECN+)
Sunday, Nov. 8
Portland State at Montana State // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Oregon State // 3:00 p.m. MT (Youtube)
Monday, Nov. 9
Idaho at Washington State // 12:00 p.m. MT (Youtube)
Northern New Mexico at Northern Colorado // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Park University at Southern Utah // 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Cal Poly at Idaho State // 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)