SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Gonzaga women's basketball team was picked to finish first in the West Coast Conference in preseason polls for the second-straight season. Graduate students Brynna Maxwell, Kayleigh Truong, Kaylynne Truong and senior Yvonne Ejim were also named to the Preseason All-WCC Team as the poll and preseason all-conference team were announced Wednesday morning by the WCC.

The Zags received eight first-place votes that and totaled 64 points in the poll. The poll is voted on by the league's nine head coaches, and coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team. Portland received one first-place vote and was selected to finish second with 50 points, while Pacific and Santa Clara were both voted to finish third with 41 points.

Gonzaga has amassed a conference record of 274-34 (.889) during the last 18 seasons, which includes 17 West Coast Conference regular-season titles and nine WCC Tournament championships.

Last season, Ejim led the Zags in scoring with 16.8 points and 8.8 rebounds a game and recorded 8 double doubles. She scored at least 20 points in 11 games this past season, including a career-high 32-point performance against Queens on Dec. 6. With her efforts last year, she was named WCC Player of the Week three times, while she averaged 27.5 minutes a game. She was also named a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Player of the Year and named to the All-WCC First Team.

Maxwell averaged 13.5 points a game last year while being one of the best free throw and three-point shooter in the country. Maxwell shot 94.9 percent from the charity stripe and 48.1 percent from the three-point line to lead the nation for the majority of the year. She scored double figures in 23 games last year as she scored a three-pointer in every game during the regular season. She was also named WCC Player of the Week twice and was tabbed All-WCC First Team.

Kaylynne Truong averaged 15.8 points a game and dished out 166 assists last season. She was named the WCC Player of the Year and an AP All-American Honorable Mention. She scored in double figures 28 times. She recorded her career-high against Pepperdine on Dec. 29, with 26 points and six three-pointers. She broke the school record for most made three pointers in a season with 94. Along with being named WCC Player of the Week twice, she was also All-WCC First Team.

Kayleigh Truong was sidelined due to an injury last season, but still appeared in 10 games and started in four of those. In three games, she scored in double figures, while scoring her season-high of 14 at Wyoming. Against Southern Utah, she dished out seven assists while scoring 11. When she returned from her injury in late February, she immediately made an impact for the team while still having limited minutes.

Fans will have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the 2023-24 squad this Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Numerica Fan Fest at 3 p.m. in McCarthey Athletic Center. Admission is free and tickets are not required.

Preseason Team
Ali Bamberger – Saint Mary's
Maisie Burnham – Portland
Yvonne Ejim – Gonzaga
Jasmine Gayles – San Francisco
Tess Heal – Santa Clara
Brynna Maxwell – Gonzaga
Emme Shearer – Portland
Liz Smith – Pacific
Kayleigh Truong – Gonzaga
Kaylynne Truong – Gonzaga
 
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Gonzaga (8)       64
2. Portland (1)        50
3. Pacific                41
    Santa Clara        41
5. San Diego          40
6. Saint Mary's       34
7. San Francisco    31
8. Pepperdine         12
9. LMU                    11