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10/9/2026 11:25:00 AM | Women's Basketball
IRVING – The Rice women's basketball team earned multiple honors on the 2026-27 American Conference preseason awards, with Victoria Flores headlining as the unanimous American Preseason Player of the Year, the league announced Friday morning.
Flores was named to the All-Conference First Team, with Hailey Adams earning All-Conference Second Team honors. Rice was selected as the preseason favorite.
Polls and preseason teams are voted on by the league's coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams or players.
The reigning American Conference Player of the Year, Flores averaged 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game last season, and over 14 points per game during conference play. Her efforts powered Rice to a 17-1 conference record and the American Conference regular season title, while also securing a program-record 29 wins.
Adams was named to the All-Defensive Team last season and was also the American Conference Ambassador Award winner. Adams averaged 8.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 blocks per game. She finished first in the conference in blocks and blocks per game, while ranking second in double-doubles, rebounds, defensive rebounds per game and rebounds per game.
Flores and Adams, along with Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds, will take part in the American Conference Media Days next Sunday and Monday in Tampa, Fla.
The 2026-27 season opens Nov. 2 at Tudor Fieldhouse against HCU.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rice (10) 142
UTSA (2) 125
South Florida (1) 121
Tulsa 117
Temple 96
North Texas 87
East Carolina 82
Florida Atlantic 60
Memphis 54
Charlotte 44
Tulane 41
UAB 26
Wichita State 19
First-place votes in parenthesis
Preseason Player of the Year
Victoria Flores, Sr., G, Rice*
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Victoria Flores, Sr., G, Rice
Stefanie Ingram, 5th, G, South Florida
Kaylah Turner, Sr., G, Temple
Idara Udo, Sr., F, UTSA
Mady Cartwright, Sr., G, Tulsa
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Daejah Richmond, Sr., G, Memphis
Tamya Smith, Jr., F, Memphis
Hailey Adams, R-Sr., G, Rice
Saniyah Craig, Sr., F, Temple
Kanija Daniel, Sr., G, Tulane
Flores was named to the All-Conference First Team, with Hailey Adams earning All-Conference Second Team honors. Rice was selected as the preseason favorite.
Polls and preseason teams are voted on by the league's coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams or players.
The reigning American Conference Player of the Year, Flores averaged 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game last season, and over 14 points per game during conference play. Her efforts powered Rice to a 17-1 conference record and the American Conference regular season title, while also securing a program-record 29 wins.
Adams was named to the All-Defensive Team last season and was also the American Conference Ambassador Award winner. Adams averaged 8.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 blocks per game. She finished first in the conference in blocks and blocks per game, while ranking second in double-doubles, rebounds, defensive rebounds per game and rebounds per game.
Flores and Adams, along with Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds, will take part in the American Conference Media Days next Sunday and Monday in Tampa, Fla.
The 2026-27 season opens Nov. 2 at Tudor Fieldhouse against HCU.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rice (10) 142
UTSA (2) 125
South Florida (1) 121
Tulsa 117
Temple 96
North Texas 87
East Carolina 82
Florida Atlantic 60
Memphis 54
Charlotte 44
Tulane 41
UAB 26
Wichita State 19
First-place votes in parenthesis
Preseason Player of the Year
Victoria Flores, Sr., G, Rice*
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Victoria Flores, Sr., G, Rice
Stefanie Ingram, 5th, G, South Florida
Kaylah Turner, Sr., G, Temple
Idara Udo, Sr., F, UTSA
Mady Cartwright, Sr., G, Tulsa
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Daejah Richmond, Sr., G, Memphis
Tamya Smith, Jr., F, Memphis
Hailey Adams, R-Sr., G, Rice
Saniyah Craig, Sr., F, Temple
Kanija Daniel, Sr., G, Tulane
Players Mentioned
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