LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV women's basketball team has been voted for the No.1 spot of the Mountain West for the 2025-26 season, the league announced today. The Lady Rebels are looking to defend their title for the fifth straight season and this marks the fourth straight season the Scarlet & Gray have been picked no. 1 in the preseason poll.
 
The Lady Rebels were chosen atop the league standings by media members and coaches, receiving 19 of 30 first-place votes and a total of 281 points.
 
Individually, graduate student guard Aaliyah Alexander and redshirt sophomore forward Meadow Roland were selected to the Preseason All-MW Team.
 
Alexander, a Federal Way, Washington native, was the third-leading scorer for the Lady Rebels, averaging 10.8 points per game in just her first season in a Lady Rebel uniform. She played and started all 33 games and led the squad in three-point percentage (.394). Additionally, she tied the single-game program record for free throws made, going a perfect 10-for-10 at the charity stripe on Feb. 8 versus New Mexico.
 
Roland, hailing from Fresno, California, was last season's MW Freshman and Sixth Player of the Year, which marked the second straight season a Lady Rebel was named both. Roland became only the second player in UNLV and conference history to earn both. She was also named to the MW All-Freshman team in 2024-25. Roland was the second-leading rebounder on the squad, averaging 5.9 per game. She averaged 10.2 points per game off the bench and was second on the team in field goal percentage (.556). Roland played in all 33 games off the bench averaging 18.8 minutes per game.
 
San Diego State was voted second in the preseason poll with three first-place votes and 240 points, Colorado State was third with one first-place vote and 236 points, while Boise State was fourth with one first-place vote and 210 points, and New Mexico rounded out the top five (two first place votes, 207 points). The rest of the poll is as follows: Wyoming (194), Grand Canyon (one first place vote, 177), Air Force (132), Fresno State (95), UNR (92), Utah State (54) and San Jose State (44).
 
The other members of the 10 selected to the Preseason All-MW team include Air Force senior guard Milahnie Perry, Boise State senior guard Natalie Pasco, Boise State senior forward Tatum Thompson, Colorado State senior guard Hannah Ronsiek, Grand Canyon sophomore guard Chloe Mann, New Mexico junior guard Destinee Hooks, San Diego State sophomore guard Naomi Panganiban and Wyoming senior guard Malene Pedersen. Thompson was selected the league's Preseason Player of the Year, Mann was named Preseason Newcomer of the Year and San Diego State guard Kendall Mosley was the Preseason Freshman of the Year.
 
UNLV begins the 2025-26 campaign on Wednesday, Oct. 29 hosting Southern Nazarene in an exhibition contest at The Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. The regular season starts on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at home versus Washington State.
 
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Season tickets for the 2025-26 UNLV Lady Rebels basketball season are on sale now. General admission seating season tickets are $75. Additional discounts are available for seniors (62 and older) and UNLV alumni, faculty and staff. To buy tickets or for more information visit UNLVTickets.com or click here.