Women's Basketball are No. 1 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for the first time in program's history.
The Panthers earned three first place votes from other coaches in the conference to top the preseason poll heading into the 2025-2026 season. That put Ramiro Dominguez's squad ahead of conference rivals and traditional SLIAC title runner ups like Webster and Westminster, with both respectively ranking No. 2 and No. 3.
"I think some people still think we got lucky for three days during the tournament last year," Dominguez said. "But they, the players, don't take anything for granted. They know they put a gigantic target on their backs by being good, and with that privilege comes a lot of responsibility."
The WBB Panthers never started a year ranked No. 1 once before, nor received any first place votes.
It is another milestone for both Dominguez and the team. Dominguez's path to building his successful program has been rising since the 2022-2023 season, when he earned his first coach of the year nomination, followed by another in 2024-2025. And the Panthers had never won the SLIAC tournament in history. The No. 1 is another trail of the legacy this group is leaving in Principia's history.
A major part of that rise comes from the Panthers' stacked roster that piled up accolades on their way to last season's historic achievement. Senior guards Lamiya Terrel and Ariana Williams earned spots in the all defensive team. They are joined by senior guard Taylor Brown and forward Trinniti Matthews, who earned all conference second team and tournament MVP honors, in that order. With four decorated upperclassmen leading the lineup, Dominguez said the roster now has the maturity and the competitiveness needed to defend their position at the top.
"I expect our experience to really show, we have five seniors starting," said one of the two team captains, Taylor Brown. Along with that she added that the group is heading into the season "stronger than ever," as they grow together each day because of how well they know each other after years of playing side by side.
Alongside the growth, the Panthers' chemistry is also matched by a growing identity in how they play under Dominguez. "The general expectation is definitely hustle and running fast, running the floor consistently. If we get a steal you're running straight to the basket, there's no stopping," said team captain Ariana Williams.
Dominguez said that identity has been strengthened by the team's conditioning and preparation before the first practice. Players arrived on campus in August already battle tested and in game shape, which he said allows the Panthers to run a faster pace on both ends of the floor and operate with a level of confidence they did not have in prior years. He believes that maturity will be crucial in tight games, especially as the Panthers face opponents who see them as the team to beat.
Despite all the excitement around the No. 1 ranking, the Panthers understand the pressure that comes with it. Dominguez said the outside perception that last year's title run was luck still fuels the group, but their response has been to embrace responsibility rather than shy away from it. "When you're No. 1 everybody is coming for you," Brown said.