IRVINE, Calif.-- The Big West announced its women's basketball preseason poll, with the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine picked to finish first by the coaches. Marking the second time the program has been picked at No. 1 since rejoining the conference in 2012, the other being at the start of the 2015-16 season.
 
A year ago, the 'Bows were slotted at No. 5 in the coaches' polls, similar to where they were picked the previous four seasons. The precursor proved to be wrong as the 2021-22 team made program history by winning both the regular season and the tournament championship, earning a bid for the NCAA tournament. 
 
UH received nine first-place votes from The Big West coaches, while UC Santa Barbra received two, positioning them at No. 2 in the polls, followed by Long Beach State at No. 3. UC Davis, the traditional favorite in the polls, is placed at No. 5.
 
The 'Bows return 11 players from last year's championship roster, including four starters. UH lost The Big West Player of the Year and last year's lone member of the Preseason Team, Amy Atwell, due to graduation. They did add sophomore guard Lily Wahinekapu the 2021-22 Big West Freshman of the Year at Cal State Fullerton, to this year's roster, as she decided to come back to her home state to play alongside her sister, freshman guard Jovi Lefoto.
 
Wahinekapu was voted as the 'Bows' singular representative on the Preseason Team after she averaged 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists in 29 starts for the Titans.
 
UH will host in-state rival Hawai'i Pacific in an exhibition on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. HT before opening the 2022-23 regular season on the road at Oregon State on Nov. 7.