IRVING, Texas – Two-time defending American Conference champion Rice was slotted atop the 2026-27 American women’s swimming and diving preseason poll, as voted on by the conference’s head coaches.
American women’s swimming and diving enters a second season with nine competing teams that includes affiliate members FIU, James Madison, Liberty and Marshall, joining full members East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, UNT, Rice and Tulane.
Rice, the winner of the 2025 and 2026 American championships, edged out 2026 conference runner-up Liberty in the preseason rankings. Tulane checked in third, just ahead of 2024 American champion FIU. The preseason projected standings were rounded out by East Carolina, James Madison, Florida Atlantic, UNT and Marshall.
Rice became the third repeat winner of the American Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship in conference history after scoring 1,404.5 points in 2026. Liberty tallied a total of 1,250 points in its first American championship start to place second.
The 2027 American Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship is scheduled for Feb. 17-20 at the Liberty Natatorium in Lynchburg, Virginia.
2026-27 American Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Preseason Coaches Poll
| 1 |
Rice (7) |
63 |
| 2 |
Liberty (2) |
58 |
| 3 |
Tulane |
43 |
| 4 |
FIU |
42 |
| 5 |
East Carolina |
36 |
| 6 |
James Madison |
32 |
| 7 |
Florida Atlantic |
26 |
| 8 |
UNT |
15 |
| 9 |
Marshall |
9 |
Note: First-place votes denoted in parenthesis