Wofford, Rose, get high preseason praise in SoCon

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Wofford Terriers were tabbed as the preseason favorites to win the Southern Conference women's basketball title for the 2024-25 season, according to a vote by the league's head coaches. Wofford senior guard Rachael Rose was named the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or student-athletes as part of the balloting. Due to a tie in voting, the preseason all-conference team was extended to 11 members.

Six of the eight teams were represented on the 11-member SoCon preseason all-conference team, with Furman being the only team to place three players on the team. UNCG, Chattanooga, and Wofford each placed two on the team, while ETSU and Samford had one selection each. Wofford picked up seven of the eight possible first-place votes in the coaches' poll, earning 49 points in the poll overall. The Terriers finished 17-13 overall and 8-6 in SoCon play last season. Head coach Jimmy Garrity's team returns three starters including Rose, the 2023-24 SoCon Player of the Year, and Helen Matthews, a fifth-year guard who made the preseason all-conference team despite missing last season. UNCG finished the 2023-24 campaign 21-12 overall and 8-6 in SoCon play, finishing runner-up at the Ingles SoCon Women's Basketball Championship. The Spartans were selected second by the coaches with the remaining first-place vote and 42 points. Trina Patterson's team returns preseason all-conference players Jayde Gamble, a senior guard, as well as graduate forward, Khalis Cain. Samford and Furman picked up 31 points to finish tied for third in the poll. Samford who finished last season 14-16, 6-8 in the conference, is represented on the preseason all-conference team by sophomore guard Kennedy Langham. Furman, who finished 15-16 overall and 5-9 in the SoCon, placed a league-leading three players on the preseason all-conference team, including senior forward Kate Johnson, senior forward Jada Session, and graduate guard Tate Walters. ETSU took fifth in the coaches' poll with 25 points. Senior guard Kendall Folley earned a spot on the preseason all-conference team. Chattanooga, the 2023-24 Regular Season and Tournament Champion, was picked sixth in the coaches' poll with 23 points. Senior guard Sigrun Olafsdottir and graduate guard/forward Kalifa Ford were named to the preseason all-conference team for the Mocs.

Mercer finished seventh in the poll with 13 points, while Western Carolina rounded out the polls with 10 points.

The 2024-25 season gets under way on Monday, Nov. 4, with six teams in action. Samford and ETSU kick off their seasons a day later. The 2025 Ingles Southern Conference Championship will be held March 6-9 at the Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina.

Team (1st-place votes) Total

Rachael Rose, Sr., G, Wofford Kendall Folley, Sr., G, ETSU Kate Johnson, Sr., F, Furman

Jada Session, Sr., F, Furman

Tate Walters, Jr., G, Furman Kennedy Langham, So., G, Samford

Khalis Cain, Gr., F, UNCG Jayde Gamble, Sr., G, UNCG Kalifa Ford, Gr., G/F, Chattanooga

Sigrun Olafsdottir, Sr., G Chattanooga Helen Matthews, Gr., G, Wofford

Rachael Rose, Sr., G, Wofford