TCU Women's Basketball Opens No. 15 as Horned Frogs Target Another Big 12 Championship

FORT WORTH - TCU women's basketball has gone from chasing national recognition to expecting it, and Tuesday's Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll reinforces how dramatically the Horned Frogs' standing has changed.

TCU will begin the 2026-27 season ranked No. 15 nationally, the highest placement among Big 12 Conference programs.

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For head coach Mark Campbell, the ranking represents another milestone in a program that has established itself as one of the conference's premier contenders.

The Horned Frogs enter the season as defending Big 12 regular-season champions, bringing heightened expectations and a considerably different challenge.

TCU is no longer an overlooked program trying to surprise opponents.

The Horned Frogs are now the team everyone wants to beat.

Oklahoma State opens at No. 22 after being selected as the conference favorite in the preseason coaches' poll, while reigning Big 12 Tournament champion West Virginia checks in at No. 24.

Arizona State, Baylor, Kansas and Colorado also received votes, giving the conference additional depth entering the season.

For TCU, maintaining its place atop that competitive landscape will require another strong performance from a roster featuring a mixture of returning talent and new contributors.

Guards Bella Hines, Lanie Grant and Jadyn Wooten are among the players expected to contribute, while the Horned Frogs feature considerable size in the frontcourt.

Sophomore Sarah Portlock stands 6-8, junior Clara Silva measures 6-7, and freshman Laura Vilcinskas adds another 6-5 presence.

That size could create significant matchup problems for conference opponents, particularly if TCU establishes consistent perimeter shooting and effective interior passing.

Campbell must also manage the challenge of developing chemistry after significant roster changes.

The Horned Frogs' national ranking creates opportunity, but it also brings pressure.

Opponents will approach TCU differently now that the program has proved capable of winning conference championships and competing on the national stage.

The Big 12 sent eight programs to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, matching its conference record, and three league teams begin this season ranked nationally.

Conference competition opens Dec. 19, with the 2027 Big 12 Tournament scheduled for March in Kansas City.

For TCU, the expectations are clear.

Winning games is no longer enough to define a successful season.

The Horned Frogs want another conference championship, another deep NCAA Tournament run and an opportunity to establish themselves permanently among the nation's elite.

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Starting at No. 15 gives them a strong foundation.

What happens next will determine whether TCU can turn another promising season into something even bigger.