By: Leon Mitchell, GSU Athletic Communications
GRAMBLING, La. | The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announced its 2025–26 Women's Basketball Preseason Teams and Predicted Order of Finish on Tuesday, with Grambling State Graduate guard Douthshine Prien earning All-SWAC Second Team honors.
The Lady Tigers were projected to finish fifth in the preseason poll, as voted on by league head coaches and sports information directors.
Prien emerged as one of Grambling State's most consistent two-way players last season
She started 27 of 30 games averaging 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
She shot 34.3 percent from the field and 65.4 percent from the free throw line, while also contributing 68 steals and 91 assists a team high.
Her energy, defensive pressure, and ability to create offense made her a cornerstone of head coach Courtney Simmon's system.
In the 2025–26 SWAC Preseason Poll, Southern was selected as the favorite to capture the league title, collecting 14 first-place votes and 265 total points.
Alabama A&M followed in second with 224 points and five first-place votes, while Jackson State (213, 1), Texas Southern (202, 1), and Grambling State (186, 2) rounded out the top five.
Alcorn State(164), Bethune-Cookman (119), Florida A&M (111), Alabama State (98), Prairie View A&M (93), Arkansas–Pine Bluff (63), and Mississippi Valley State (56) completed the preseason rankings.
Grambling State is coming off a competitive 2024–25 season in which the Lady Tigers finished 15–15 overall and 12–6 in SWAC play.
They earned the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament losing in the quarterfinals to No. 4 Jackson State.
Grambling State tips off the 2025–26 season on Tuesday, November 4, with a road matchup against Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. The season opener is set for an 11 a.m. tip inside Moody Coliseum.
2025 SWAC Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
Southern- 265 (14)
Alabama A&M- 224 (5)
Jackson State- 213 (1)
Texas Southern- 202 (1)
Grambling State- 186 (2)
Alcorn State- 164
Bethune-Cookman- 119
Florida A&M- 111
Alabama State- 98
Prairie View A&M- 93
Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 63
Mississippi Valley State- 56
*First place votes listed in parenthesis
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