Waddington named Preseason All-Big Sky - University of Montana Athletics

Montana junior Avery Waddington was named to the Preseason All-Big Sky Conference Team on Wednesday as the league announced its preseason honors and polls.

Waddington, a second-team All-Big Sky selection last season as a sophomore, was voted to the Preseason All-Big Sky team for the second consecutive year.

Montana State and Eastern Washington both had a pair of preseason selections, with players from Idaho and Southern Utah filling out the seven-player team.

The top five teams in the coaches' and media preseason polls both mirrored each other: Montana State, Idaho, Northern Colorado, Eastern Washington and Southern Utah.

The Bobcats and Vandals, who met in last year's Big Sky championship game after finishing first (Idaho) and second (Montana State) in the regular season, collected every first-place vote in both polls.

The Lady Griz, who finished eighth last season, going 9-22 overall, 5-13 in league, came in sixth in the coaches' poll, seventh in the media poll.

Waddington became the first player in program history last season to lead Montana in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.

She averaged 13.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while playing more than 33 minutes per game, shooting 45.8 percent overall, 35.5 percent from the 3-point line and 74.3 percent from the free throw line.

She opened the season with a 20-point outing against Seattle Pacific and four more times scored 20 or more points, totaling a career-high 31 in a home win over Portland State.

Waddington finished the season with four double-doubles.

Montana State's Taylee Chirrick was voted the Preseason MVP. Addison Harris of the Bobcats also made the Preseason All-Big Sky Team.

Chirrick was last year's league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. She and Harris were both first-team All-Big Sky selections.

Eastern Washington, which lost three two-point games to Montana State last season, two in overtime, had both Kourtney Grossman and Elyn Bowers on the Preseason All-Big Sky Team.

Grossman was second-team All-Big Sky last season after leading the league in rebounding (12.6/g) and ranking fourth nationally.

Idaho's Hope Hassmann was first-team All-Big Sky last season, Southern Utah senior Ava Uhrich was voted first-team All-WAC last season after averaging 14.6 points and 9.9 rebounds for the Thunderbirds.

Montana State and Idaho were the top two teams in the Big Sky last season, combining to go 35-1 against league opponents when they weren't playing each other.

After the teams split their regular-season match-ups, No. 1 seed Idaho defeated No. 2 Montana State 60-57 in the Big Sky title game in Boise in March.

Northern Colorado, picked seventh and ninth last year, had a 23-win season in 2025-26 and finished third in the league at 13-5. The Bears were picked third again.

Eastern Washington, which returns five of its top six scorers, was picked fourth.

Southern Utah went 19-13 last season and finished third in the WAC at 11-7, behind Cal Baptist and Abilene Christian. The Thunderbirds advanced to the WNIT.

Nine of Montana's 15 players in 2025-26 are new to the program. The Lady Griz added five transfers last spring and welcomed four freshmen.

Waddington, Jocelyn Land, Aby Shubert and Kennedy Gillette all started at least half of Montana's games last season.

The Lady Griz open the season hosting Montana Western on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

2026-27 Preseason All-Big Sky Conference Team
Taylee Chirrick, Montana State (Preseason MVP)
Hope Hassmann, Idaho
Kourtney Grossman, Eastern Washington
Addison Harris, Montana State
Ava Uhrich, Southern Utah
Avery Waddington, Montana
Elyn Bowers, Eastern Washington

2026-27 Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Montana State (9) – 99
2. Idaho (2) – 90
3. Northern Colorado – 76
4. Eastern Washington – 71
5. Southern Utah – 67
6. Montana – 54
7. Idaho State – 49
8. Weber State – 32
9. Portland State – 30
10. Northern Arizona – 27
11. Utah Tech – 10

2026-27 Big Sky Conference Preseason Media Poll
1. Montana State (23) – 283
2. Idaho (3) – 254
3. Northern Colorado – 214
4. Eastern Washington – 197
5. Southern Utah – 173
6. Idaho State – 157
7. Montana – 149
8. Northern Arizona – 110
9. Weber State – 70
10. Portland State – 63
11. Utah Tech – 46

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Kennedy Gillette

Jocelyn Land

Aby Shubert

Avery Waddington

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