Women’s Basketball Selected to Finish Third in Preseason Poll, Williams and Carlson Selected to Preseason All-Conference

JOHNSON CITY, TENN. – The Big South Conference announced at Big South Media Day presented by Food City the preseason poll and all-conference teams. Highlander standouts Joi Williams and Cate Carlson were both selected to the preseason all-conference first-team while Radford was also picked to finish third in the preseason poll with one first-place vote.

Williams enters her junior campaign after developing into the Highlanders' top scoring threat last season leading the offense with 12.2 points per game, 2.6 assists per game all while shooting 39% from three and 44% overall. Williams was named to the Big South first-team all-conference squad at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. Her 65 three-pointers ranked sixth-most in a single season in program history while her career three-point shooting percentage moved up to third best in program history.

Carlson stepped into a major starting role for the Highlanders last season starting and appearing in all 31 games played. Being named to the Big South's honorable mention all-conference squad at the end of the season, Carlson Obliterated her freshman season numbers setting new season highs for points (309, 10.3 ppg), rebounds (101, 3.4 rpg), assists (38), steals (32) minutes (792, 26.4 mpg) and shooting percentage (.368). Her .375 shooting percentage from three-point range ended the season ranked fourth best in program history.

In the conference's preseason poll, voted on by the Big South's coaches, Radford was predicted to finish third receiving one first-place vote. Their 67 points were two behind second-place Longwood, and nearly 20 points ahead of fourth-place Winthrop. This poll marks the ninth time in the last 10 seasons the Mike McGuire-led program has been picked to finish in the top half of the league.

Radford's 2025-26 season kicks off in just a couple weeks. Radford fans can get their first look at the team in a free admission exhibition on October 28th at 7 p.m. against Lynchburg. The Highlanders' regular season opens on the road at Wake Forest on November 3rd with the home opener set against Emory & Henry on November 8th.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Cate Carlson: G; 5' 10"; Junior

#4 Joi Williams: G; 5' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#8 Cate Carlson
: 5' 10"; Junior
: G

#4 Joi Williams
: 5' 6"; Junior
: G

Players Mentioned

#8 Cate Carlson

#4 Joi Williams

Players Mentioned

#8 Cate Carlson

#4 Joi Williams