TAMPA, Fla., October 9, 2025 — For the sixth consecutive season, the University of South Florida women's basketball team has been selected as the favorite to win the American Conference, according to the league's preseason coaches poll announced Thursday.
Senior forward Carla Brito was named the American Preseason Player of the Year, while also earning a unanimous spot on the Preseason All-Conference First Team. Additionally, graduate forward L'or Mputu joined Brito on the first team, giving the Bulls three of the league's top preseason selections entering the 2025–26 campaign.
USF topped the preseason poll with 143 total points and 11 of 13 first-place votes. UTSA followed in second place with one first-place vote and 119 total points, while Rice also earned one first-place vote with 113 points to round out the top three.
CARLA BRITO HIGHLIGHTS
2024-25: Named AAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player and AAC All-Tournament Team…named AAC All-Conference Second Team…earned AAC Honor Roll (Jan. 20)…recorded seven double-double performances…18 double-figure scoring games…11 double-digit rebound games…collected 17 pts, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block against Rice in AACT Championship Game (Mar. 12)…had 7th Double-Double (15 points, career-best 17 reb) of the season in win against Tulane (Mar. 10)…Brito (18 points, 11 rebounds) recorded her sixth double-double of the season in the win against Memphis (Feb. 22)…added 16 points in back-to-back games against Rice (Feb. 12) and at FAU (Feb. 15)…collected 12 points in the win against North Texas (Feb. 1)…added 14 points, nine rebounds, & matched career-best 6 assists in win against UTSA (Jan. 29).
L'OR MPUTU HIGHLIGHTS
2024-25: Named AAC Most Improved Player…earned AAC Player of the Week (Feb. 3)…put up 12 points against No. 5 seed Tennessee (Mar. 21) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament…14 double-digit scoring performances…12 double-figure rebound games…five double-doubles…grabbed a career-best 21 rebounds in the win against UNT in AAC Tournament Semifinals (Mar. 11)…logged 6th career double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) in win at Charlotte (Feb. 18)…collected 5th career double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) against North Texas (Feb. 1)…added 4th career double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) at North Texas (Jan. 11)…matched a career-best 17 points in overtime win against Charlotte (Jan. 1)…Added her third career double-double (career-best 17 points and 11 rebounds) in upset of No. 9/10 Duke (Dec. 21).
Beginning this season, the American Basketball Championship will feature the top 10 teams in a new five-day bracket format. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will advance directly to the semifinals, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will maintain byes to the quarterfinals. The No. 5 and No. 6 seeds will receive byes to the second round. The 2026 Championship will run Tuesday through Saturday, March 10-14 at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
- South Florida (11) - 143
- UTSA (1) - 119
- Rice (1) - 113
- Temple - 107
- Tulane - 104
- North Texas - 95
- East Carolina - 82
- Tulsa - 72
- Memphis - 52
- Charlotte - 50
- UAB - 38
- Wichita State - 23
- Florida Atlantic - 16
First-place votes in parenthesis
Preseason Player of the Year
Carla Brito, Sr., F, South Florida
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Dominique Ennis, Sr., G, Rice
Carla Brito, Sr., F, South Florida*
L'or Mputu, Gr., F, South Florida
Kaylah Turner, Jr., G, Temple
Idara Udo, Jr., F, UTSA
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Aniah Alexis, So., G, Rice
Victoria Flores, Jr., G, Rice
Amira Mabry, Sr., F, Tulane
Kendall Sneed, So., G, Tulane
Mady Cartwright, Jr., G, Tulsa
* denotes unanimous selection
2025-26 SEASON TICKETS
Bulls fans, it's time to lock in your seats for another exciting season of USF Basketball! The 2025-26 season promises competitive matchups and unforgettable moments at the Yuengling Center. Buy your season tickets here.
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ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
South Florida women's basketball has made 19 postseason tournament appearances and had 10 NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez's 25 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided the Bulls to 12 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2008-09 WNIT championship, and has won 485 career games, and is the all-time wins leader in the American Conference
– #GoBulls –
