Indiana women’s basketball inside the top-10 in preseason AP Top 25

Fresh off of one of the best seasons in program history, the Indiana women’s basketball program looks to replicate the success in 2023-24.

On Tuesday, the AP Top 25 preseason poll was released and Indiana women’s basketball was inside the top-10. Indiana checked in at No. 9 in the rankings.

Indiana finished 28-4 overall and 16-2 in Big Ten play a season ago. That led to an outright regular season Big Ten Championship, something Indiana hadn’t accomplished in 40 years.

Teri Moren enters her ninth season with Indiana. She led the program to a No. 2 overall ranking in the AP Poll last season — highest in program history. It resulted in a first-ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the program.

Indiana posted wins over nine top 25 foes this season, five of which came against top-five opponents.

But, a second round loss to Miami (Fla.) in the NCAA Tournament stunned Indiana.

Now, the Hoosiers return a core led by All-American forward Mackenzie Holmes. Sydney Parrish, Sara Scalia, Yarden Garzon and Chloe Moore-McNeil also return for what will be another Final Four contender.

Indiana is using that NCAA Tournament loss as fuel for a breakthrough 2023-24 season.

“I don’t think we’re over it, and I think that’s kind of going to put us on a good first step into the season because I don’t think you can get over it after the great season we had during the regular season and the postseason,” Indiana senior wing Sydney Parrish said at Indiana Basketball Media Day. “I really, for me at least, I’m not over it. People still mention it a lot and it kind of hurts. I think that’ll just be another thing that drives us through the season.”

Indiana has gone to four straight NCAA Tournaments. It has gone to one Sweet 16 and one Elite Eight in those seasons.

“We’ve been so close,” Moren said at Indiana basketball media day. “Anytime that you have the opportunity to get to a Sweet 16, get to an Elite 8, the way we have and you realize it’s just that one game and you’re playing for a Final Four, you’re playing for a National Championship, we’ve tasted it, if you will. We know what it takes to get there. There’s no question that we have everything we need in order to be able to do that, to win a National Championship.”

The season begins for the Indiana women’s basketball program with its season-opener against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 9.