OKLAHOMA CITY – The Sooner Athletic Conference has released the 2025-2026 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, where the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens were picked to finish 7
th.
The Flying Queens, who finished in 2
nd place last season, will return key contributors
Peyton North and
Teodora Popovic, while also getting back
Ksenija Djokic who missed the entire 2024-25 season with an injury.
First-year Head Coach
Jordan Vessels's squad will have a great blend of upper-classmen and youth. Popovic, Djokic, and newcomers
Heaven Hayden and
Zalika Stevens are all graduate students, while North,
Jadyn Trusler, and newcomer
Kalin Bradley will all be juniors with two years of eligibility left.
Iliana Hernandez returns to the Queens as a sophomore with three years left to play.
The 2025-2026 SAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll shows the following:
- Langston – 121 (11)
- Texas Wesleyan – 96 (1)
- John Brown – 87
- College of the Ozarks (86)
- Mid-America Christian – 83
- Science & Arts – 81
- Wayland Baptist – 72
- Oklahoma City – 50
- Nelson – 47
- Southwestern Christian – 31
- Panhandle State – 19
- Central Christian – 15
SAC Assistant Commissioner of Communications Jim Powers has conducted interviews with Coach Vessels and
Peyton North that will air on the Urban Edge Network at 11:30 AM.
The Flying Queens will tip-off the 2025-2026 season with an exhibition game against Western Oklahoma State on Monday, October 27
th at 6:00 PM in the Hutcherson Center.
The Queens will begin the regular season in Helena, Montana when they face off against Carroll College (Mont.) on Thursday, November 6
th at 12:00 PM.
