MONROE, La. — The ULM women's basketball team has been selected to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Preseason coaches poll, receiving 150 votes. Jakayla Johnson and Katlyn Manuel have also been named to the All-Sun Belt first and second teams, respectively. The Warhawks fall behind James Madison, Troy and Old Dominion. This is the highest ULM has been ranked in the preseason coaches poll since joining the conference in 2006. 
 
Jakayla Johnson was named All-Sun Belt First Team after receiving multiple honors at the conclusion of last season. The Auburn transfer was named to the All-Sun Belt Third Team and the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Third Team last season. She was the second leading scorer on the Warhawks, averaging 15.2 points/game. She reached the 30-point mark in two games last season as well. This is ULM's first player to be named to the All-Sun Belt First Team since 2006, when the Warhawks joined the conference.
 
Katlyn Manuel, the conference's reigning Sixth Woman of the Year, was named All-Sun Belt Third Team to open the 2024-25 season. In her third year with the Warhawks, Manuel averaged 10.2 points/game, racking up three double-doubles. She also led the team with 30 blocks on the season, averaging 1.0 per game.
 
ULM is coming off a historic season in 2023-24, finishing with a 21-14 record and second in the Sun Belt West under first-year head coach Missy Bilderback. The Warhawks achieved the most wins in a season since the 2007-08 season. They also held the longest conference win streak in over 19 years. ULM finished the season by competing in the WNIT, making it to the Great 8 before falling to conference foe Troy.
 
The 2024-25 season opens in three weeks, the season opener vs. Central Baptist taking place on Monday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Conference play for ULM will begin on Dec. 29 at Coastal Carolina and the Warhawks will take on Sun Belt preseason first-ranked James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va. on Feb. 28 to conclude regular season play.
 
The 2024-25 Sun Belt women's basketball preseason awards are listed below:
 
Preseason Player of the Year:
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Emily Carver, App State [Sr. | G | Asheville, N.C.]
Aislynn Hayes, Marshall [Sr. | G | Murfreesboro, Tenn.]
Crystal Henderson, Georgia State [So. | G | Marietta, Ga.]
Jakayla Johnson, ULM [Sr. | G | Clinton, Miss.]
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-Jr. | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [Sr. | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
*Ties were not broken
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
En'Dya Buford, Old Dominion [Gr. | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
Melyia Grayson, Southern Miss [5^th Yr. | C | Hattiesburg, Miss.] 
Jaylyn James, Louisiana [Jr. | G | Madisonville, La.]
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-Sr. | C | Moscow, Russia]
Katlyn Manuel, ULM [Sr. | F | Lawtell, La.]
Shaulana Wagner, Troy [Sr. | G | Detriot, Mich.]
*Ties were not broken
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Ramsey Alancia, Coastal Carolina [So. | F | Delray Beach, Fla.]
Zay Dyer, Troy [Jr. | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Anna Griffin, Arkansas State [Sr. | G | Aurora, Ill]
Kelsey Thompson, Old Dominion [Jr. | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Ro Scott, James Madison [Gr. | G | Earle, Ark.]
 
2024 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll 
1. James Madison (12) – 191
2. Troy (2) – 169
3. Old Dominion - 167
4. ULM - 150
5. Louisiana - 122
6. Marshall - 118
7. Southern Miss - 113
8. Georgia State - 107
9. Coastal Carolina - 77
10. Texas State - 67
11. App State - 61
12. Georgia Southern - 53
13. Arkansas State - 50
14. South Alabama - 25

*Parentheses indicate first-place votes