SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced today the results of its preseason balloting by the league's eight women's basketball coaches. Wofford was selected as the preseason favorite to win the SoCon with a pair of Terriers on the preseason all-conference team. Rachael Rose earned preseason player of the year honors alongside Helen Matthews on the preseason all-league team. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams or players.
 
Wofford secured all seven of the first-place votes it could receive, earning 49 total voting points to be tabbed as the league's preseason favorite for the first time in program history. UNCG earned the other first-place vote, totaling 42 points in second place.
 
"We are excited that another season is upon us and have thoroughly enjoyed our first few weeks of official practice with this year's team," said head coach Jimmy Garrity. "Our program has enjoyed very successful seasons in the past few years, and being voted the preseason favorite is certainly an honor and reflective of the results and hard work our players have put in. Having said that, the Southern Conference women's basketball programs continue to be extremely balanced from top to bottom with very talented players and coaches in each program. We will continue to focus on getting better and preparing for our upcoming non-conference schedule to get us ready for SoCon play."
 
Rachael Rose, the two-time defending SoCon Player of the Year, was predicted to three-peat by the league's coaches. Rose scored a program-record 670 points last season, averaging 22.3 points per game to lead the SoCon and rank seventh in the nation. Rose also dished a program-record 163 assists and swiped 64 steals, leading the league in both categories. As a junior, she shot 50.4 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from three. At the charity stripe, Rose netted 140 free throws at a program-record 87.0 percent clip. With 8.3 rebounds per game, Rose also topped the conference.
 
Helen Matthews, who missed last season due to injury, is set to make her return as a fifth-year senior. She joins Rose on the preseason all-conference squad, making Wofford one of four schools in the league to boast at least two preseason honorees. Matthews last saw action in the 2022-23 campaign as a junior, aiding in the Terriers claiming the SoCon regular-season championship as she earned SoCon All-Defensive Team recognition. That season Matthews recorded 28 steals with 16 blocks. She scored 301 points at a rate of 9.7 per game while shooting 40.3 percent from the field. Matthews also secured 5.3 rebounds per game, 163 total, while dishing 57 assists.
 
"I am extremely happy and proud of both Rachael and Helen being voted by the SoCon coaches as Preseason All-Conference," said Garrity. "They have both worked tirelessly on improving their craft while putting all team goals first. I think this recognition is quite impressive for Helen, who missed the entire 2023-24 season due to injury. It just goes to show what respect she has earned throughout the league. Rachael continues to be one of the premier players not only in the SoCon, but in the entire country. She has been so consistent throughout her college career and being voted Preseason Player of the Year is quite an honor, considering the high caliber of players throughout the Southern Conference."
 
The Terriers return eight players from last season's squad and welcome four newcomers, including three freshmen and one sophomore transfer. Alongside Rose and Matthews, Evangelia Paulk and Maddie Heiss highlight the returners as the SoCon All-Freshman Team duo return. Paulk is the reigning SoCon Freshman of the Year. Other returners include Indiya Clarke, who earned her way into the starting five to conclude the season, alongside Mia Flor, Libby Privett and Sara Deidda.
 
Wofford opens the 2024-25 campaign at home on Monday, November 4, by welcoming Newberry to the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The SoCon opener for the Terriers is set for Saturday, January 11, with Furman coming to Spartanburg.
 
Preseason All-Conference Team
POTY: Rachael Rose, Wofford
Kendall Folley, ETSU
Jada Session, Furman
Kate Johnson, Furman
Tate Walters, Furman
Jayde Gamble, UNCG
Khalis Cain, UNCG
Kennedy Langham, Samford
Kalifa Ford, Chattanooga
Sigrun Olafsdottir, Chattanooga
Helen Matthews, Wofford
 
Coaches Poll

1. Wofford          49 pts (7)
2. UNCG             42 pts (1)
T3. Samford          31 pts
T3. Furman            31 pts
5.   ETSU              25 pts
6.   Chattanooga    23 pts
7.   Mercer            13 pts
8.   W. Carolina    10 pts