USF Ladies’s Basketball Leads American Conference Preseason Poll; Carla Brito Named Preseason Player of the Year

TAMPA, Fla., October 9, 2025 — For the sixth consecutive season, the University of South Florida ladies’s basketball workforce has been chosen as the favourite to win the American Conference, based on the league’s preseason coaches ballot introduced Thursday.

Senior ahead Carla Brito was named the American Preseason Player of the Year, whereas additionally incomes a unanimous spot on the Preseason All-Conference First Team. Additionally, graduate ahead L’or Mputu joined Brito on the primary workforce, giving the Bulls three of the league’s high preseason alternatives getting into the 2025–26 marketing campaign.

USF topped the preseason ballot with 143 complete factors and 11 of 13 first-place votes. UTSA adopted in second place with one first-place vote and 119 complete factors, whereas Rice additionally earned one first-place vote with 113 factors to spherical out the highest three.

CARLA BRITO HIGHLIGHTS

2024-25: Named AAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player and AAC All-Tournament Team…named AAC All-Conference Second Team…earned AAC Honor Roll (Jan. 20)…recorded seven double-double performances…18 double-figure scoring video games…11 double-digit rebound video games…collected 17 pts, 9 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in opposition to Rice in AACT Championship Game (Mar. 12)…had seventh Double-Double (15 factors, career-best 17 reb) of the season in win in opposition to Tulane (Mar. 10)…Brito (18 factors, 11 rebounds) recorded her sixth double-double of the season within the win in opposition to Memphis (Feb. 22)…added 16 factors in back-to-back video games in opposition to Rice (Feb. 12) and at FAU (Feb. 15)…collected 12 factors within the win in opposition to North Texas (Feb. 1)…added 14 factors, 9 rebounds, & matched career-best 6 assists in win in opposition to UTSA (Jan. 29).

L’OR MPUTU HIGHLIGHTS

2024-25: Named AAC Most Improved Player…earned AAC Player of the Week (Feb. 3)…put up 12 factors in opposition to No. 5 seed Tennessee (Mar. 21) within the first spherical of the NCAA Tournament…14 double-digit scoring performances…12 double-figure rebound video games…5 double-doubles…grabbed a career-best 21 rebounds within the win in opposition to UNT in AAC Tournament Semifinals (Mar. 11)…logged sixth profession double-double (11 factors, 10 rebounds) in win at Charlotte (Feb. 18)…collected fifth profession double-double (14 factors, 10 rebounds) in opposition to North Texas (Feb. 1)…added 4th profession double-double (14 factors, 10 rebounds) at North Texas (Jan. 11)…matched a career-best 17 factors in time beyond regulation win in opposition to Charlotte (Jan. 1)…Added her third profession double-double (career-best 17 factors and 11 rebounds) in upset of No. 9/10 Duke (Dec. 21).

Beginning this season, the American Basketball Championship will function the highest 10 groups in a brand new five-day bracket format. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will advance on to the semifinals, whereas the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will preserve byes to the quarterfinals. The No. 5 and No. 6 seeds will obtain byes to the second spherical. The 2026 Championship will run Tuesday by means of Saturday, March 10-14 on the Legacy Arena on the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.

 

Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. South Florida (11) – 143
2. UTSA (1) – 119
3. Rice (1) – 113
4. Temple – 107
5. Tulane – 104
6. North Texas – 95
7. East Carolina – 82
8. Tulsa –  72
9. Memphis – 52
10. Charlotte – 50
11. UAB – 38
12. Wichita State – 23
13. Florida Atlantic – 16

First-place votes in parenthesis

 

Preseason Player of the Year

Carla Brito, Sr., F, South Florida

 

Preseason All-Conference First Team

Dominique Ennis, Sr., G, Rice

Carla Brito, Sr., F, South Florida*

L’or Mputu, Gr., F, South Florida

Kaylah Turner, Jr., G, Temple

Idara Udo, Jr., F, UTSA

 

Preseason All-Conference Second Team

Aniah Alexis, So., G, Rice

Victoria Flores, Jr., G, Rice

Amira Mabry, Sr., F, Tulane

Kendall Sneed, So., G, Tulane

Mady Cartwright, Jr., G, Tulsa

* denotes unanimous choice

2025-26 SEASON TICKETS

Bulls followers, it is time to lock in your seats for one more thrilling season of USF Basketball! The 2025-26 season guarantees aggressive matchups and unforgettable moments on the Yuengling Center. Buy your season tickets here.

 

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ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

South Florida ladies’s basketball has made 19 postseason event appearances and had 10 NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 25 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program historical past, Fernandez has guided the Bulls to 12 20-win seasons, two WNIT remaining 4 appearances, the 2008-09 WNIT championship, and has received 485 profession video games, and is the all-time wins chief within the American Conference

– #GoBulls –