ATLANTA, Ga. -- Minnesota State Moorhead women's basketball made a return to the annual Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 following the 2025-26 season. The Dragons were ranked 15th in the country with a cumulative team GPA of 3.757.
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 recognizes college women's basketball teams across the nation in their respective divisions that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. A team must have a combined GPA of 3.0 or better and be nominated by its head coach who must be a member of the WBCA to be recognized.
Moorhead bolstered a 3.757 cumulative team GPA for the academic year to rank within the top 15 in the nation. It is the first time since the 2021-22 season that the Dragons have been a WBCA Academic Top 25 team. In total, it is MSUM's 16th selection in the 31 years of the prestigious rankings. The Dragons were one of five Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schools honored in 2025-26 (Southwest Minnesota State, Sioux Falls, Northern State, St. Cloud State.
"The WBCA is pleased to recognize those women's basketball programs that have committed themselves to excellence on the court and in the classroom," WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew said. "The 119 ranked teams we honor this year across all five collegiate membership divisions strive to achieve all-around success and we commend their efforts. Congratulations!"
NCAA Division II
|
Rank |
Institution |
Head Coach |
GPA |
| 1 |
Mercy |
Scott Lagas |
3.853 |
| 2 |
Fla. Southern |
Megan Dzikas |
3.849 |
| 3 |
Embry-Riddle (FL) |
Lisa Wilson |
3.841 |
| 4 |
Northwestern Okla. |
Tasha Diesselhorst |
3.826 |
| 5 |
East Stroudsburg |
Liz Flooks |
3.825 |
| 6 |
Southwest Minn. St. |
Tom Webb |
3.811 |
| 7 |
Colorado Mesa |
Taylor Wagner |
3.797 |
| 8 |
Goldey-Beacom |
Bethann Burke |
3.790 |
| 9 |
Fort Hays St. |
Talia Kahrs |
3.787 |
| 10 |
Harding |
Tim Kirby |
3.776 |
| 11 |
Lubbock Christian |
Steve Gomez |
3.775 |
| 12 |
Northwood |
Autumn Hunter |
3.772 |
| 13 |
Maryville |
Brita Hand |
3.770 |
| 14 |
Southern N.H. |
Karen Pinkos |
3.759 |
| 15 |
MSU Moorhead |
Karla Nelson |
3.757 |
| 16 |
Gannon |
Cleve Wright |
3.755 |
| T17 |
Northern Mich. |
Casey Thousand |
3.752 |
| T17 |
Point Loma |
Charity Elliott |
3.752 |
| 19 |
Upper Iowa |
Justin Maass |
3.740 |
| 20 |
Sioux Falls |
Travis Traphagen |
3.732 |
| 21 |
Northern St. |
Paula Krueger |
3.730 |
| 22 |
Ouachita Baptist |
Nick Long |
3.729 |
| 23 |
St. Cloud St. |
Lori Fish |
3.726 |
| 24 |
McKendree |
Kari Kerkhoff |
3.724 |
| 25 |
Malone |
Selana Ickes |
3.716 |
|
|
|
|
|
Special Mention: Central Mo., Dave Slifer, 3.710; Post, Courtney Burns, 3.705; Texas Woman's, Beth Jillson, 3.703; Lee, Marty Rowe, 3.686; Mont. St. Billings, Kevin Woodin, 3.683; Northwest Mo. St., Austin Meyer; 3.680; Tampa, Tom Jessee, 3.678; Barry, Allison Bustamante, 3.674; Kutztown, Janet Malouf, 3.673; Cal Poly Pomona, Danelle Bishop, 3.669; Georgian Court, Jazz Perazic, 3.667; Ferris St., Kurt Westendorp, 3.661; Eckerd, Paul Honsinger, 3.661; Rockhurst, Larry Park, 3.655; Chaminade, J. Travis Brewster, 3.653; Ill. Springfield, Olivia Birt, 3.651; Carson-Newman, Mike Mincey, 3.643; Ashland, Kari Pickens, 3.640; UVA Wise, Jamie Cluesman, 3.638; Davenport, Shonda Sanders, 3.628; Winona St., Ana Wurtz, 3.628; Menlo, Shannon Spataro, 3.617; Truman St., Theo Dean, 3.616; Tex. A&M-Kingsville, Michael Madrid, 3.615; Black Hills St., Kelly Kruger, 3.597; Wis.-Parkside, Jen Conely, 3.596; West Liberty, Kyle Cooper, 3.591; Fairmont St., Stephanie Anderson, 3.587; Chestnut Hill, Megan Fox, 3.585; Pace, Carrie Seymour, 3.579; Saginaw Valley, Jenny Pruett, 3.577; D'Youville, Kelly Broderick, 3.572; Drury, Kaci Bailey, 3.568; St. Mary's (TX), Valerie Huizar, 3.551; Edinboro, Callie Wheeler, 3.549; USC Aiken, Brittany Batts, 3.546; Bentley, Carolyn White, 3.532; Wayne St. (MI), Carrie Lohr, 3.528; Bridgeport, James Howard, 3.521; Minnesota St., Emilee Thiesse, 3.513; Mary, Rick Neumann, 3.510; Shepherd, Julie Kaufman, 3.506; Cal St. East Bay, Jenny Thigpin, 3.482; Okla. Baptist, Bo Overton, 3.461; Kentucky St., Amani Williams, 3.460; Wingate, Ann Hancock, 3.422; Newman, Amy Briggs, 3.408; Mount Olive, Joey Higginbotham, 3.407; UC Merced, Kellie Bernard, 3.404; Assumption, Kerry Phayre, 3.403; Cal St. Monterey Bay, Sarah Hopkins-Chery, 3.363; Hillsdale, Brianna Brennan, 3.329; Cal State LA, Torino Johnson, 3.308; Union, Mark Campbell, 3.269; Emory & Henry, Jaclyn Dickens, 3.255; Cal St. San Marcos, Jana Pearson, 3.191; Valdosta St., Chandler Merkerson, 3.189; Augusta, Celeste Stewart, 3.039.
