BOSTON – The reigning America East Champions, Vermont women's basketball team, has been selected as the league favorite in the 2025-26 America East Preseason Poll. The Catamounts received seven first-place votes and scored 63 points in the poll. America East also announced its Preseason All-Conference Team, which features UVM guard Catherine Gilwee and center Nikola Priede.

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Voting was conducted by the league's head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team. Maine was selected second in the poll, receiving the remaining two first-place votes with a score of 55 points, while Bryant was voted third with 46 points. UAlbany (42 points) and NJIT (37 points) rounded out the league's top five.

The Catamounts enter the 2025-26 campaign as preseason favorites after being selected to finish third in 2024-25 season. This is the second time Vermont has been selected to finish first in the America East Preseason Poll in the past three years under Mayer Women's Head Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge. 

This is the first time both Catherine Gilwee and Nikola Priede have been selected for this Preseason All-Conference honor. Gilwee is entering her fifth season after missing the entire 2023-24 season due to injury. Last year, Gilwee averaged 8.1 points, 3.8 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game for the Catamounts. Gilwee's 3.8 assists per game lead America East, and she was ranked fourth in the conference in minutes played averaging 32.9. At the conclusion of the 2024-25 season she was named to the America East All-Conference 2nd-Team.

Priede is coming off a breakout season for the Catamounts, where she averaged 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. Priede's 1.1 blocks per game ranked fourth in America East. Last season she was named America East Championship Most Outstanding Player, America East All-Championship Team, and America East All-Conference 2nd-Team. 
 

2025-26 America East Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

School          Points (1st Place) 

1. Vermont 63 (7)

2. Maine 55 (2)

3. Bryant 46

4. UAlbany 42

5. NJIT 37

6. Binghamton 26

7. New Hampshire 24

8. UMBC 23

9. UMass Lowell 8
 

2025-26 Preseason All-Conference Team

Player                Pos.        Yr.        School

Eva DeChent           G        Jr.         New Hampshire

Catherine Gilwee     G       Sr.         Vermont

Mia Mancini             G       Jr.          Bryant

Nikola Priede           F       Sr.          Vermont

Adrianna Smith        F      Sr.           Maine

Alejandra Zuniga     G      Sr.           NJIT

UVM opens the 2025-26 regular season Tuesday, Nov. 4, against Dean College at 6 p.m. ET. Before the regular season, the Catamounts will host an exhibition game against crosstown rival Saint Michael's on Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

Vermont will look to win its second straight America East Title for the second time in program history and first since 2008-09 and 2009-10.

For more news about the Vermont women's basketball program, follow @UVMwbb on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com. Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont women's basketball