Our first SGI Women’s Basketball Power Rankings for the basketball season are out. It is hard to early in the season properly rank the teams as the non-conference schedules vary widely, but now that conference play is starting, we can start our SGI weekly power rankings. The SGI power rankings for NAIA and D2 rank 12 teams from St. Ambrose in the East to Briar Cliff in the West.
So, we expect a lot of movement in the rankings after the new year as it becomes more clear on which teams are rising and contending for post season March Madness basketball.
Between the Baseline and Basket – SGI Basketball Coverage
So, our first SGI Power Ranking for the 2025-26 Season for the 14 NAIA Women’s and Men’s Teams that we cover are as follows.
Dordt is the defending NAIA Champions, shooting for their straight NAIA Title and off to a 12-1 start and a number #2 NAIA Ranking and holds our top spot in our rankings.
Upper Iowa in Division 2 is off to a 7-4 start, and are followed closely by the NAIA ranked Briar Cliff (11-3) in the third spot. The Grandview Women are off to an undefeated conference start in the Heart of America Conference (NAIA) and have played a rugged non-conference schedule and are at 10-5.
Morningside (10-4) and Northwestern College (8-5) are off to strong starts playing in the GPAC (which is loaded with Dordt and Briar Cliff in the conference) which is arguably the best NAIA Conference in America.
St. Ambrose plays in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference in NAIA is 6-6 and NIAA teams Mount Mercy is 6-7. Clarke 5-7, William Penn (5-9), Graceland (1-12) and Waldorf (1-12) round out our first rankings.
As we move further into the conference seasons after Christmas break the rankings will solidify. The Final Four for NAIA is being hosted in Sioux City, IA this spring. Who among the Iowa Teams we cover (13) in the state have a chance to make it to Sioux City?
It is going to be fun to find out who will make it to Sioux City this spring.
As always, we appreciate your comments and support.
