Cajuns’ Women Picked Fifth in the Sun Belt

Despite losing two All-Conference selections, coaches around the Sun Belt believe the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns will still be a solid club.

The Cajuns, who have won the last two WBI championships under fifth year coach Garry Brodhead, are picked fifth in the league for the 2016-17 season.

Junior Simone Fields, who blossomed in the second half of last season, was picked preseason third team All-Conference.

Louisiana (25-10, 13-7 SBC in 2015-16) will have to try to replace the scoring and defense of departed seniors Keke Veal and Kia Wilridge, but return a good nucleus of players with experience.  Fields and senior Jaylin Gordon will be counted upon for both scoring and defense, while defensive specialist Jodi Quinn, who started the second half of the season in Gordon's absence, returns as well.  Center Brionne Cooper, and sharpshooting seniors Sylvana Okde and Taylor Washington also return.

Troy, who represented the league in the NCAA tournament a year ago, is picked to win the league.  Perennial power Little Rock was a close second in the poll.  UT Arlington, which features preseason Player of the Year Rebekah VanDijk, was picked third, followed by South Alabama and the Cajuns.

You can see the entire poll and preseason All-Conference teams here.