DENVER - The University of Nevada women's basketball team was picked to finish six in the WAC by the league's coaches and fifth by the media in the 2009 WAC Preseason women's basketball poll. Coaches could not vote for their own players.
In the coaches poll, Fresno State received 60 points and five first-place votes to beat out Louisiana Tech for the top spot. The Lady Techsters captured second place with 58 points and three first-place votes. Boise State took third place with 53 points and the other first-place vote. Idaho finished fourth with 39 points, followed closely by New Mexico State in fifth place with 38 points. Nevada came in at sixth place with 28 points, followed by Utah State in seventh with 24 points. Hawai'i and San Jose State tied for eighth place with 12 points apiece.
In the media poll, Louisiana Tech, which shared last year's WAC regular-season title with Fresno State, received 14 first-place votes, earning 180 points. Fresno State was picked to finish second with 167 points and six first-place votes, followed by Boise State with 136 points and one first-place vote. Idaho was picked to finish fourth with 114 points, followed by Nevada with 104 points. In sixth place was New Mexico State with 100 points, with Utah State following in seventh with 72 points. Hawai'i was slated to finish eighth with 46 points and San Jose State was picked to finish ninth with 26 points.
Nevada returns two starters and 10 letterwinners from its 2008-09 team that finished 18-14 overall, 10-6 in the WAC and advanced to the final game of the WAC Tournament.
The Pack will open the 2009-10 season with an exhibition game against CSU East Bay on November 1 at 2 p.m. in Lawlor Events Center. Admission to the exhibition game is free. Nevada will open the regular season at home on November 14 at 7 p.m. against CSU Monterey Bay.
Preseason Coaches Poll
| Rank | Team (First Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. | Fresno State (5) | 60 |
| 2. | Louisiana Tech (3) | 58 |
| 3. | Boise State (1) | 53 |
| 4. | Idaho | 39 |
| 5. | New Mexico State | 38 |
| 6. | Nevada | 28 |
| 7. | Utah State | 24 |
| T8. | Hawai`i | 12 |
| T8. | San Jose State | 12 |
Preseason All-WAC Teams
First Team
Shanavia Dowdell, Sr., F, LA Tech
Adrienne Johndon, Jr. F, LA Tech
Tasha Harris, Sr., G, Boise State
Jalessa Ross, Jr., G, Fresno State
Madison Spence, Jr., G, New Mexico State
Second Team
Yinka Olorunnife, Jr., G/F, Fresno State
Lydia Whitehead, Sr., C, Utah State
Hayley Munro, Jr., G/F, Fresno State
Derisa Taleni, Sr., G/P, Idaho
Jessica Van Hoogen, Sr., G, Boise State
Preseason Player of the Year: Shanavia Dowdell, LA Tech
Preseason Media Poll
| Rank | Team (First Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. | Louisiana Tech (14) | 180 |
| 2. | Fresno State (6) | 167 |
| 3. | Boise State (1) | 136 |
| 4. | Idaho | 114 |
| 5. | Nevada | 104 |
| 6. | New Mexico State | 100 |
| 7. | Utah State | 72 |
| 8. | Hawai'i | 46 |
| 9. | San Jose State | 26 |
Preseason All-WAC Teams
First Team
Shanavia Dowdell, Sr., F, LA Tech
Adrienne Johndon, Jr. F, LA Tech
Yinka Olorunnife, Jr., P, Idaho
Jalessa Ross, Jr., G, Fresno State
Madison Spence, Jr., G, New Mexico State
Second Team
Crystal Boyd, New Mexico State
Tasha Harris, Sr., G, Boise State
Hayley Munro, Jr., G/F, Fresno State
Derisa Taleni, Sr., G/P, Idaho
Jessica Van Hoogen, Sr., G, Boise State
Player of the Year: Shanavia Dowdell, LA Tech
