Texas Tech Women's Hoops Snubbed in AP Top 25 as Big 12 Rivals Earn Respect

Texas Tech women's basketball enters the 2026-27 season with unfinished business, and Tuesday's Associated Press preseason Top 25 gives the Lady Raiders another reason to play with a chip on their shoulders.

Despite reaching last season's NCAA Tournament, Texas Tech was left outside the preseason rankings while three Big 12 programs earned national recognition.

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Defending regular-season champion TCU leads the conference at No. 15, followed by Oklahoma State at No. 22 and West Virginia at No. 24.

Arizona State, Baylor, Kansas and Colorado also received votes.

The Lady Raiders, however, were absent from the AP ballot's list of teams receiving votes.

For head coach Krista Gerlich, the omission presents another challenge as Texas Tech attempts to build on its return to postseason relevance.

The Lady Raiders reached the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, defeating Villanova before falling to LSU.

Now Gerlich must replace key production and establish another competitive roster in a Big 12 Conference that continues gaining national recognition.

Texas Tech has added several intriguing pieces, including Mya Petticord and Martina Anyango, while returning contributors such as Jalayah Ingram provide experience.

The Lady Raiders offered an encouraging early glimpse of their potential Sunday, defeating Angelo State 81-40 in an exhibition at United Supermarkets Arena.

But preseason exhibitions are a long way from competing against ranked conference opponents.

Texas Tech will have opportunities to prove itself.

The Lady Raiders begin the regular season November 5 at home against Charlotte before welcoming Lamar and Auburn to Lubbock.

Conference play opens December 20 against Colorado, followed by a December 30 road matchup with Baylor.

Texas Tech also has a home-and-home series with West Virginia, one of the conference's three preseason ranked programs.

Those games will offer the Lady Raiders meaningful opportunities to strengthen their postseason résumé.

The Big 12 placed eight teams in last season's NCAA Tournament, matching a conference record. Seven or more conference programs have now reached March Madness for three consecutive seasons.

Texas Tech proved last season that it belongs in that conversation.

Now the Lady Raiders must demonstrate they can remain there.

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The preseason poll suggests national voters aren't convinced just yet.

Gerlich and her players have the entire season to change that assessment.