ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— With three new teams in the Mountain West and in Head Coach Amy Eagan’s first year, New Mexico was selected fifth in the Preseason Predicted Order of Finish behind 123 points and received one first-place vote.
In addition, coming off of a freshman season in which she earned a spot on the Mountain West All-Freshman Team, Laila Abdurraqib was one of 10 players selected to the Preseason All-MW Team.
The Lobos were one of three teams to receive a first-place vote. As voted on by the conference coaches and media, UNLV was picked as the preseason favorite with 16 first-place votes and 193 points with Grand Canyon second with 180 points and five first-place votes.
The separation between third and fifth was four points with UC Davis third at 127 points, Hawai’i fourth at 125 points and UNM at 123 points.
Behind the Lobos were Air Force at 107 points, Wyoming at 84 points, Nevada at 83 points, UTEP at 56 points and San José State selected 10th with 32 points.
Abdurraqib earned a spot on the preseason team after appearing in 32 games, averaging 7.5 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game, as well as shooting 40.4% from the floor and 37.9% from three-point range last season. A proficient three-point shooter, the Indiana native made a team-high 53 three-pointers, the second most by a Lobo freshman in a single season and the most for a freshman since the 2018-19 season. The guard finished in double figures in 10 games with a season high of 25 behind seven three-pointers, and made a three-pointer in 26 games with multiple three-pointers in 14 games.
Eagan and her staff enter their first season in the Mountain West with 10 newcomers and five returners. UNM opens its season at home against Seattle U on Nov. 2 and begin Mountain West play at home against UTEP on Dec. 30.
Tickets for the 2026-27 season are available at golobos.com/tickets.
MW Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
| Team (1st place votes) | Points |
| 1. UNLV (16) | 193 |
| 2. Grand Canyon (5) | 180 |
| 3. UC Davis | 127 |
| 4. Hawai'i | 125 |
| 5. New Mexico (1) | 123 |
| 6. Air Force | 107 |
| 7. Wyoming | 84 |
| 8. Nevada | 83 |
| 9. UTEP | 56 |
| 10. San José State | 32 |