This year's Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll was released on Monday morning and Old Dominion women's basketball has been picked to finish fourth. The poll was voted on by the league's 14 head coaches.
The Monarchs, who reached the conference tournament semifinals last season, received 149 total points. Defending Sun Belt champion James Madison was picked as the preseason favorite with nine first-place votes and 186 points. Troy landed in the No. 2 spot with three first-place votes and 177 points, and Southern Miss was selected third with one first-place vote and 159 points.
When asked about the results of the poll, head coach DeLisha Milton-Jones said that it is, "Motivation."
ODU returns five players from last year's squad that finished 22-12 overall and 12-6 against Sun Belt opponents. Guards Kaye Clark and Jordan McLaughlin are the two starters back for the Monarchs, and other returners include guard Joy Campbell, center Mikayla Brown and forward Brenda Fontana. The team has 10 newcomers for 2023-24: guards La'Dajah Huguley, Halima Salat, Mimi McCollister and En'Dya Buford; guard/forwards Simone Cunningham and Ivi Nikolova; forwards De'Shawnti Thomas, Nnenna Orji and Lanetta Williams; and forward/center Jenny Nkem Womsi.
The team will host Christopher Newport for an exhibition game on Friday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
Monarch women picked 4th in Sun Belt basketball preseason poll
Old Dominion, who reached the conference tournament semifinals last season, received 149 total points.