A look into the 2025 Ivy League women’s basketball preseason poll
Princeton leads the preseason poll while Penn is placed fourth in the Ivy League women’s basketball standings for 2025. Last season brought many surprises and upsets in the Ancient Eight conference.
Preseason favorite Princeton did not win the regular season or the tournament title last year. Harvard made history by qualifying for March Madness for the first time in its program's existence. Penn ended the season in fourth place and was the only Ivy League team not advancing to March Madness, despite the league sending three teams.
Princeton Tigers (21-8, 12-2 Ivy League)
Princeton's six-year streak of regular-season titles ended last year, but the team remains the clear favorite for 2025. They secured 17 of 21 first-place votes in the preseason poll. The Tigers faced challenges after losing Madison St. Rose, the 2023 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, to an ACL injury in November. However, their younger players rose to the occasion.
Guards Skye Belker and Fadima Tall are expected to take leadership alongside Ashley Chea, the sole returning unanimous first team All-Ivy player in the league.
Columbia Lions
Columbia was traditionally the conference’s runner-up but has recently strengthened its performance. After a dominant regular season and winning a March Madness game for the first time, the Lions are a team to watch this year.
Last season, Princeton missed out on a regular-season title, breaking its six-year winning streak.
Harvard clinched its first March Madness berth in program history.
Despite setbacks, the Ivy League teams are preparing for a competitive 2025 season.
Author's summary: Princeton remains the preseason favorite after a turbulent year, while Columbia and Harvard rise as strong contenders in the evolving Ivy League women's basketball landscape.