UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Connecticut is the unanimous choice to win women's championship in the inaugural American Athletic Conference.
The defending national champions received nine first place votes from the league's coaches. National runner-up Louisville is second in the preseason poll chosen by the coaches released Monday. Louisville is playing in the conference for one season before bolting to the ACC.
South Florida was picked third with Rutgers fourth. The Scarlet Knights also are only playing one season in the conference before heading to the Big Ten.
SMU, Memphis, Cincinnati, Central Florida, Temple and Houston round out the picks.
Connecticut sophomore Breanna Stewart is the conference's preseason player of the year. She helped UConn win the national title in April and was the most outstanding player of the Final Four.
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