FRISCO, Texas – Defending Southland Regular Season Champion Northwestern State begins the defense of that regular season crown and a quest for a tournament title as the conference favorites heading into the 2026 season. Head coach Ian Brophy and the Demons earned seven of a possible 11 first-place votes in the preseason poll, resulting in 96 points.
2025 Southland Tournament Champions HCU slotted into a tie for third with one first-place vote and 74, points, equal to to Lamar who earned a pair of first-place votes with 74 points. East Texas A&M came in ahead of both teams at the No. 2 spot with 76 points.
SFA claimed the final first-place nod while collecting 66 points followed by Southeastern, A&M-Corpus Christi, UIW, McNeese and Nicholls and UTRGV finishing tied for the final spot.
The Southland Conference preseason poll is voted on by either an institution's head coach or sports information director, resulting in one vote per school. Each voter ranks their predicted order of regular season finish, not including their own team. The 2026 Women's Soccer Championship is set for November 10 through Noveber 15 in Commerce, Texas.
PRESEASON POLL
| Place |
Team (First-Place Votes) |
Total |
| 1. |
Northwestern State (7) |
96 |
| 2. |
East Texas A&M |
76 |
| T-3. |
Lamar (2) |
74 |
| T-3. |
HCU (1) |
74 |
| 5. |
SFA (1) |
66 |
| 6. |
Southeastern |
65 |
| 7. |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
51 |
| 8. |
UIW |
37 |
| 9. |
McNeese |
26 |
| T-10. |
Nicholls |
20 |
| T-10. |
UTRGV |
20 |