The Gonzaga women's basketball team was picked to finish first in the West Coast Conference in preseason polls for the second straight season.

Graduate students Brynna Maxwell, Kayleigh Truong and Kaylynne Truong, and senior Yvonne Ejim, were also named to the preseason all-WCC team as the poll and preseason all-conference team were announced Wednesday morning by the WCC.

The Zags received eight first-place votes that and totaled 64 points in the poll. The poll is voted on by the league's nine head coaches, and coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team. Portland received one first-place vote.

Gonzaga has amassed a conference record of 274-34 (.889) during the last 18 seasons, which includes 17 West Coast Conference regular-season titles and nine WCC Tournament championships.

Last season, Ejim led the Zags in scoring with 16.8 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. Maxwell averaged 13.5 points a game, shot 94.9 percent from the free-throw line and 48.1 percent from the 3-point line to lead the nation for the majority of the year. Kaylynne Truong averaged 15.8 points a game, dished out 166 assists and was named the WCC Player of the Year and an AP All-American Honorable Mention. Kayleigh Truong was sidelined due to an injury most of last season, but still appeared in 10 games and started in four.

Fans will have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the 2023-24 squad this Saturday at the Numerica Fan Fest at 3 p.m. in McCarthey Athletic Center. Admission is free and tickets are not required.

ALL-WCC PRESEASON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

Ali Bamberger, Saint Mary's; Maisie Burnham, Portland; Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga; Jasmine Gayles, San Francisco; Tess Heal, Santa Clara; Brynna Maxwell, Gonzaga; Emme Shearer, Portland; Liz Smith, Pacific; Kayleigh Truong, Gonzaga; Kaylynne Truong, Gonzaga.

PRESEASON COACHES POLL

(First-place votes in parentheses)

1, Gonzaga (8) 64 points. 2, Portland 91) 50. 3 (tie), Pacific, Santa Clara 41. 5, San Diego 40. 6, Saint Mary's 34. 7, San Francisco 31. 8, Pepperdine 12. 9, LMU 11.

Media votes WSU men's basketball 10th in preseason poll

The Washington State men’s basketball team was selected 10th in the 2023-24 Pac-12 preseason media poll, the conference announced Wednesday morning.

WSU reloaded with a trio of high-profile transfers, including Joseph Yesufu from Kansas. Senior Andrej Jakimovski returns, looking to guide the Cougs to a third consecutive postseason bid.

Wazzu finished the 2022-23 season with a 17-17 record, bowing out of the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament. Sophomore Mouhamed Gueye was selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Washington State begins the 2023-24 campaign at home against Idaho, Monday, Nov. 6, in a double-header action with the women's team. The men tip off at 8 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.

2023-24 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Preseason Media Poll

(First-place votes in parentheses)

1, Arizona (18) 303 points. 2, USC (4) 264. 3, UCLA (4) 249. 4, Oregon 228. 5, Colorado 210. 6, Arizona State 148. 7, Utah 139. 8, Stanford 131. 9, Washington 108. 10, Washington State 94. 11, California 67. 12, Oregon State 42.