The Great Southwest Athletic Conference announced its women's basketball preseason coaches' poll this morning and the Park University Gilbert women's basketball team finds itself picked fourth out of nine teams.

Last year, the Bucs defied the odds as they were picked to finish last, but shocked the conference with a third-place finish. The Bucs hope to duplicate a similar move this season as they hope to win their first conference title in school history.

All coaches vote for the poll but are prevented from voting for their own team.

 Arizona Christian who finished first in the regular season a year ago were the top pick again. Hope International, who returns almost their whole team from last year and picked up a transfer from The Master's was tied for second but received the most first place votes. The Master's who lost a number of players from their GSAC Tournament winning team was also tied for second. ACU (3), HIU (4) and TMU (2) all received first place votes.

The Bucs were followed by OUAZ, Embry Riddle, Benedictine Mesa, Life Pacific and conference newcomer La Sierra.

A year ago, the Bucs took the GSAC and NAIA by storm with a high-octane offense which was second in the nation in three-point baskets per game at 12.12. The Bucs led the conference in scoring at 79 points per and look to better those marks this season.

Park returns three starters led by GSAC Defender of the Year Alynna Palacios who was second in the nation averaging four steals per game a year ago. Palacios also averaged 11 points and nine rebounds a game last season.

Senior guard Hemani Kalia is one of many long-range shooters who will be a big part of Bucs fortunes this season. Last season Kalia, who was returning from a knee injury, found her footing late in the season and averaged 13 points a game over the last seven contests.

Senior forward Larken Hoar looks to also continue her strong finish to the 2024 season which saw her make six three-pointers against OUAZ.

Other returners to watch include sophomore guard Jacie Bunck who has in the gym range shooting, junior guard Yuli Garcia who will move to point guard, sophomore point guard Camisha Fuson who will also provide a steady presence helming the "Full Sail" offense and junior forward Kiley Bush who is another demon on the boards.

Head coach Ben York brought in another solid recruiting class with a combination of freshman and transfers who can come in and have an immediate impact.

Leading the way is junior forward Hayley Valencia who played her freshman season at Park before transferring to Western Colorado for a season. For the last two years, Valencia has been in a battle for her life as she battled and beat Leukemia. She contacted coach York who was an assistant during her freshman campaign and is also a cancer survivor and he immediately said yes when she asked if she could return to play for the Buccaneers. Valencia was an impact player as a freshman leading the team in rebounds, averaging 6.7 per and scoring 10 points per game.

In addition, JC transfer Jelissa Julmist gives the Bucs a strong post presence as she averaged over eight rebounds a game at Peninsula College in Washington.

Division 2 Point Loma transfer guard Allie Cummings gives the Bucs another sharp shooting presence.

Freshman guard Symirah Gray comes to the program from Poston Butte High School in San Tan Valley, Ariz., where she led the 4A Conference in Arizona in points per game at 24.7.

The Buccaneers open the season with a home game against Nelson University this Thursday, October 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. Joe Giacinto, a blind autistic musical genius who plays the clarinet and has over 100 songs memorized, will play the national anthem at the game and the Bobby McFerrin song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" at halftime.  

2025-26 GSAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Arizona Christian (3) -- 56 points
2t. Hope International (4) -- 50 points
2t. The Master's (2) -- 50 points
4. Park Gilbert -- 45 points
5. OUAZ -- 36 points
6. Embry-Riddle -- 31 points
7. Benedictine Mesa -- 30 points
8. Life Pacific -- 17 points
9. La Sierra -- 9 points