UDC Women’s Basketball Ranked 3rd in ECC Preseason Poll

Washington, D.C. - The University of the District of Columbia women's basketball team has been ranked third in the 2024-2025 East Coast Conference (ECC) Preseason Poll. Garnering 60 points and one first-place vote, the Firebirds enter the season as a top contender in the ECC following their impressive 20-10 record last year, including an 11-5 mark in conference play.

The Firebirds sat atop the conference in 13 categories last year, including blocks per game (5.5, fourth nationally), rebounds per game (42.23), steals per game (11.1), turnovers forced per game (20.03), and scoring offense (70.9 points per game). Looking to fill the shoes left by All-ECC First Team guard Destiny Ryles (16.8 ppg, second in the ECC), who ranked fifth nationally in total steals (100), it will be Tori Williams on whom the leadership falls in 2024-25. Williams led the Firebirds in rebounds last year (6.9) and will enter her senior season as UDC's top returning scorer (12.0 ppg). District of Columbia will look to build upon its 20-10 (11-5 ECC) season in the search for its second-ever ECC title, last won in 2014. 

UDC also returns seven other players from last year's squad, while welcoming four new Firebirds to the mix.

ECC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Mercy - 76 points (5 first-place votes)
(2024 Record – 20-10, 12-4 ECC)

2. Daemen - 71 points (3 first-place votes)
(2024 Record – 23-8, 13-3 ECC)

3. District of Columbia - 60 points (1 first-place vote)
(2024 Record – 20-10, 11-5 ECC)

4. St. Thomas Aquinas - 52 points 
(2024 Record – 18-12, 11-5 ECC)

5. Staten Island - 43 points
(2024 Record – 10-18, 7-9 ECC)

6. Molloy - 30 points
(2024 Record – 10-17, 4-12 ECC)

7. Queens - 29 points
(2024 Record – 8-19, 4-12 ECC)

8. D'Youville - 27 points
(2024 Record – 9-18, 7-9 ECC)

9. Roberts Wesleyan - 17 points
(2024 Record – 7-17, 3-13 ECC)

( ) - first-place votes

ECC Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Jaclyn Stanavich, Mercy (Sr., F, Amsterdam, NY)