ATLANTA, Ga. — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2025-26 preseason all-conference women's basketball teams, individual honors and predicted order of finish on Wednesday, featuring four returning players from the 2024-25 All-SIAC lineup.
Benedict placed two players on the preseason all-conference squad.
Alaysia Nash was named to the second team, while
Ghylissa Knowles was named to the third team.
During the 2024-25 season, Nash was second on the team in scoring, averaging 9.4 points per game. The junior guard scored a career-high 23 points against Savannah State. She recorded a career-high seven steals at Paine, and ranked 17
th in the SIAC in steals per game.
Knowles was one of the top 3-point shooters in the SIAC last season. She averaged 8.8 points per game. She finished with 58 made 3-pointers in 23 games, an average of 2.5 made 3-pointers per game. The senior guard scored a career-high 21 points at Savannah State, making six 3-pointers.
In the predicted order of finish, Benedict was projected to finish fifth in the SIAC East Division.
Preseason teams are as voted by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
| FIRST TEAM |
| NAME |
POSITION |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Atreonia Garner* |
Guard/Forward |
Clark Atlanta |
Junior |
Spanaway, Wash. |
| Dyani Bernstine* |
Point Guard |
Lane |
Junior |
Richmond, Calif. |
| Trinity Jones* |
Guard |
Clark Atlanta |
Graduate |
Americus, Ga. |
| Keyra Peterson* |
Guard/Forward |
Clark Atlanta |
Senior |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Na'Haviya Paxton |
Guard |
Albany State |
Senior |
Lake City, Fla. |
| – * RETURNING 2024-25 ALL-SIAC SELECTION |
| SECOND TEAM |
| NAME |
POSITION |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Eboni Clay |
Guard |
Allen |
Sophomore |
Portland, Ore. |
| Alayah Birch |
Guard |
Savannah State |
Sophomore |
Charleston, S.C. |
| Alaysia Nash |
Guard |
Benedict |
Junior |
Taylors, S.C. |
| Aaniyah Allen |
Guard |
Fort Valley State |
Junior |
Elberton, Ga. |
| Marley Bell |
Guard/Forward |
Fort Valley State |
Sophomore |
Montgomery, Ga. |
| THIRD TEAM |
| NAME |
POSITION |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Marley Freeman |
Guard |
LeMoyne-Owen |
Senior |
Jackson, Miss. |
| Ghylissa Knowles |
Guard |
Benedict |
Graduate |
Forest Park, Ga. |
| Makayla Rieves |
Forward |
Miles |
Senior |
Columbus, Miss. |
| Diara McBroom |
Guard |
Kentucky State |
Senior |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
| Kimora Wade |
Forward |
Fort Valley State |
Sophomore |
Valdosta, Ga. |
| PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| NAME |
POSITION |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Atreonia Garner |
Guard/Forward |
Clark Atlanta |
Junior |
Spanaway, Wash. |
| PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| NAME |
POSITION |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Na'Haviya Paxton |
Guard |
Albany State |
Senior |
Lake City, Fla. |
| PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH (BY DIVISION) |
| EAST |
| 1. Clark Atlanta |
| 2. Edward Waters |
| 3. Allen |
| 4. Savannah State |
| 5. Benedict |
| 6. Fort Valley State |
| 7. Albany State |
| WEST |
| 1. Miles |
| 2. Tuskegee |
| 3. Lane |
| 4. Kentucky State |
| 5. Central State |
| 6. Spring Hill |
| 7. LeMoyne-Owen |
