- LSC Release

CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M senior guard Kyla Kane was named the 2025-26 Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year on Monday afternoon as the Lady Buffs were tabbed fourth in the league's preseason coaches' poll.
 
Defending Regional Champion Texas Woman's claimed 20 of the possible 51 first place votes to sit atop of the poll with 810 points followed by Lubbock Christian (14 first place, 776), UT Tyler (eight first place, 761), West Texas A&M (six first place, 663) and Eastern New Mexico (two first place, 657) to round out the top five.
 
The preseason poll and preseason player of the year are voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
 
Angelo State (656) sits sixth followed by Texas A&M-Kingsville (564), UT Permian Basin (466), Midwestern State (461), St. Mary's (438), St. Edward's (363), Oklahoma Christian (310), Cameron (262), Texas A&M International (one first place, 210), UT Dallas (168), Western New Mexico (161) and Sul Ross State (77).
 
Kane, who is a 5-foot-10 native of Wellington, Texas, averaged 13.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. She shot 89.8 percent from the free throw line and made 56 3-pointers. She was a second team all-LSC selection.
 
Additionally, 17 players – including Kane – were selected for the LSC Women's Basketball Preseason Players to Watch list. The student-athletes were nominated by their member institution.
 
The Lady Buffs open their 2025-26 campaign on Tuesday night as they travel to Dallas, Texas for an exhibition contest with the SMU Mustangs beginning at 6:30 p.m. WT's regular season opener takes place on November 1^st against defending National Champion Grand Valley State during the D2CCA Tipoff Classic.