Kentucky WBB comes in at No. 13 in preseason Coaches Poll

Kentucky Women’s Basketball will start the 2021-22 season as a consensus top 15 team in the country.

Earlier on Wednesday, the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll released its preseason Top 25 rankings. Checking at No. 13 is the Kyra Elzy-led Wildcats. Kentucky is also ranked 13th by the Associated Press while ESPN has the ‘Cats at No. 12.

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Kentucky’s 2021-22 schedule is loaded with Top 25 opponents. UK will face the likes of No. 1 South Carolina twice, @ No. 6 Louisville, @ No. 7 Indiana, @ No. 15 Tennessee, No. 17 Texas A&M, No. 19 Georgia, and No. 23 West Virginia throughout the year. The ‘Cats will also go up against the likes of Arkansas, LSU, DePaul, and Ole Miss, all of which are receiving votes in the Coaches Poll.

Despite the loss of senior guard Blair Green to a ruptured Achilles, Kentucky still figures to roll out a very competitive roster. Any team that includes future No. 1 WNBA Draft pick Rhyne Howard will have a chance to win games. But with Green out the picture for the rest of the season, someone will have to break out unexpectedly.

WBB Coaches Poll Top 25

1. South Carolina
2. UConn
3. Stanford
4. NC State
5. Maryland
6. Louisville
7. Indiana
8. Baylor
9. Oregon
10. Michigan
11. Iowa
12. Tennessee
13. Kentucky
14. UCLA
15. Arizona
16. Iowa State
17. Texas A&M
18. Oregon State
19. Georgia
20. Georgia Tech
21. Texas
22. South Florida
23. West Virginia
24. Florida State
25. Ohio State

Others receiving votes: Missouri State 112, Gonzaga 59, Virginia Tech 56, Florida Gulf Coast 54, Arkansas 53, Michigan State 28, Rutgers 17, Stephen F. Austin 16, South Dakota State 13, Washington State 13, LSU 13, Northwestern 13, BYU 11, North Carolina 11, UCF 8, Colorado 8, DePaul 5, Ole Miss 5, Belmont 4, Oklahoma 4, Delaware 4, South Dakota 3, Notre Dame 3, Houston 2, Seton Hall 1, Virginia 1, IUPUI 1

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UK will open the season with the team’s lone exhibition game on Thursday night against Lee University. You can check out Grant Grubbs’ preview of that by clicking the link here. The regular season tips off on Tuesday, Nov. 9 against Presbyterian College.