Preseason poll sets the stage
Coaches and administrators have already voiced confidence in the Falcons, awarding them 96 points and seven top votes in the 2026 Mountain West regular‑season poll. The team finished second in the 2025 championship with a 6‑2‑2 conference record, giving them a strong foundation as they aim to capture the title.
Wyoming follows in the poll with 83 points and a single first‑place vote, while New Mexico sits third with 82 points and two votes. Grand Canyon earned a solitary vote and is projected fourth with 79 points, and Colorado College rounds out the top five with 59 points. The remainder of the league includes Hawaii in sixth with 50 points, UNLV seventh with 44, and the rest of the field spread across the next five slots.
Watch list and opening week
The 2026 season will open on August 12, and the conference has announced a 33‑player watch list that includes five athletes who earned All‑Mountain West honors last year. Among them, Annika Jost was crowned 2025 MW Offensive Player of the Year and appears prominently on the list, signaling her role as a key offensive threat.