Oct. 13, 2005
DALLAS -- Defending NCAA champion Baylor was picked to win its second consecutive Big 12 Conference women's basketball title in the 2005-06 preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches. The Lady Bears received six first place votes and totaled 113 points to edge out second place Texas with two first place nods and 110 points.
Texas Tech was a close third with the four remaining first place votes and 108 points. Oklahoma (91 points), Nebraska (70 points), Kansas (66 points), Texas A&M (59 points), Kansas State (56 points), Iowa State (45 points), Missouri (37 points), Oklahoma State (23 points) and Colorado (14 points) round out the poll.
Baylor returns Kodak All-American Sophia Young and two other starters from last year's squad that finished 33-3 overall and 14-2 in conference play while winning the NCAA national championship and the Big 12 regular season and championship titles.
The Lady Bears were one of six Big 12 teams to compete in the 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, joining Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech. In addition, Nebraska and Texas A&M competed in the WNIT.
Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech enter the 2005-06 season rated in the Top 25 of several national preseason publications.
The Preseason All-Big 12 Team will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The annual Big 12 Basketball Media Days will be conducted Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 19 and 20, in Dallas.
2005-06 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
| 1. | Baylor (6) | 113 |
| 2. | Texas (2) | 110 |
| 3. | Texas Tech (4) | 108 |
| 4. | Oklahoma | 91 |
| 5. | Nebraska | 70 |
| 6. | Kansas | 66 |
| 7. | Texas A&M | 59 |
| 8. | Kansas State | 56 |
| 9. | Iowa State | 45 |
| 10. | Missouri | 37 |
| 11. | Oklahoma State | 23 |
| 12. | Colorado | 14 |
(first place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for their own team)
Preseason Poll History
| Season | Preseason Selection | Big 12 Champion |
| 1996-97 | Poll Not Conducted | Kansas |
| 1997-98 | Texas Tech | Texas Tech |
| 1998-99 | Kansas | Texas Tech |
| 1999-00 | Iowa State | Iowa State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma |
| 2000-01 | Iowa State | Oklahoma |
| 2001-02 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 2002-03 | Texas Tech | Texas |
| 2003-04 | Texas | Texas, Kansas State |
| 2004-05 | Texas | Baylor |
