Bobcats sweep Big Sky women’s basketball preseason honors; Taylee Chirrick named Preseason MVP

FARMINGTON, Utah — Montana State is the clear favorite in Big Sky Conference women’s basketball heading into 2026-27, and the league’s reigning MVP is the preseason pick to repeat.

The Bobcats were selected to win the conference by both the coaches and the media in polls released Wednesday, Oct. 21, by the Big Sky office. Montana State drew nine of 11 first-place votes from the coaches and 23 of 26 from the media. Taylee Chirrick was named Preseason MVP, and teammate Addison Harris joined her on the seven-player Preseason All-Conference Team.

Montana State returns 10 players from a team that went 27-8 overall and 16-2 in league play last season. Chirrick, entering her third season in Bozeman, is the reigning Big Sky MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. She has averaged 12.7 points per game while shooting close to 43% from the field across her first two seasons, earned All-Big Sky Defensive Team honors twice and piled up 251 steals in 66 career games.

Idaho, the defending champion, was second in both polls after a record-setting 2025-26 season in which the Vandals went 29-5 overall and 17-1 in conference play while sweeping the regular-season and tournament titles. Idaho collected the remaining first-place votes — two from the coaches and three from the media. Hope Hassmann, the reigning Big Sky Tournament MVP, returns after averaging 14.2 points per game and was named to the preseason team.

Northern Colorado was third in both polls after finishing third in the standings a year ago. The Bears are coming off a 23-win season and bring back Heather Baymon, Neenah George and Tatum West, a trio that combined for more than 1,200 points and 500 rebounds last season.

Eastern Washington and newcomer Southern Utah rounded out the top five in both polls, in that order. The Eagles placed Kourtney Grossman and Elyn Bowers on the preseason team, while the Thunderbirds’ Ava Uhrich also earned a spot.

Montana’s Avery Waddington completed the preseason squad. The Lady Griz were picked sixth by the coaches and seventh by the media.

Southern Utah and Utah Tech join the league this season, pushing Big Sky women’s basketball membership to 11 schools for the first time since 2021-22.

The season officially begins Monday, Nov. 2. The 2027 Big Sky Basketball Championships are set for March 5-10 at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

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

(First-place votes in parentheses)

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

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