Cal Tabbed No. 9 In USA Today Preseason Coaches’ Poll

BERKELEY – The California women’s basketball team has been tabbed No. 9 in the USA Today Sports Preseason Coaches’ Poll, matching the top preseason ranking in program history as the Bears prepare for a new season after making it to the NCAA Final Four last year.

Cal will play four games against the top three preseason teams with a neutral site game against No. 1 Connecticut (December 22 in New York City), a home game against No. 2 Duke (November 10) and a home-and-home series against No. 3 Stanford (January 30 in Palo Alto, February 2 in Berkeley).

Rounding out the top 10 are No. 4 Tennessee, No. 5 Louisville, No. 6 Maryland, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 8 Kentucky and No. 10 Baylor. Connecticut received 31 or 32 first-place votes with Tennessee receiving the other. The Pac-12 had four schools represented in Stanford, California, No. 19 Colorado and No. 25 UCLA.

The Golden Bears went 32-4 last season and won a share of the first Pac-12 regular season title in program history with a 17-1 conference record. The Golden Bears return seven letterwinners and three starters, including preseason national player of the year candidates Brittany Boyd and Gennifer Brandon.

The Bears open the year with a free exhibition game on Friday, Nov. 1 against Vanguard before beginning the regular season a week later against Long Beach State. Single game, season ticket and mini-plan packages are available through the Cal Athletic Ticket Office, online or by calling 1-800-GO-BEARS.

USA Today Sports Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Connecticut (31)
2. Duke
3. Stanford
4. Tennessee (1)
5. Louisville
6. Maryland
7. Notre Dame
8. Kentucky
9. California
10. Baylor
11. North Carolina
12. Nebraska
13. Texas A&M
14. Oklahoma
15. Penn State
16. Dayton
17. LSU
18. Michigan State
19. Colorado
20. Iowa State
21. South Carolina
22. Georgia
23. Purdue
24. Oklahoma State
25. UCLA
(First-Place Votes)