Arkansas State guard Crislyn Rose has been named the Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year and earned first-team all-conference honors, while the Red Wolves were picked third in the league’s preseason coaches poll.
Rose, a fourth-year guard from Sachse, Texas, returns for her final season with the Red Wolves after earning second-team All-Sun Belt recognition in 2025-26.
She started all 37 games last season, averaging 11.2 points, 4.6 assists, 2.8 rebounds and one steal per game. Rose scored at least 20 points in six games and shot 81% from the free-throw line.
Her preseason recognition comes after helping Arkansas State complete one of its most successful seasons in program history.
The Red Wolves finished 27-10 overall and 14-4 in Sun Belt play, placing third in the conference standings before advancing to the semifinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
Arkansas State received 165 points and one first-place vote in the preseason coaches poll, finishing just one point behind second-place Troy.
James Madison was selected as the conference favorite with 189 points and 11 first-place votes. Troy received 166 points, followed by Arkansas State with 165.
Marshall was picked fourth with 151 points and one first-place vote, while Louisiana Tech rounded out the top five with 148 points and one first-place vote.
Rose was joined on the preseason All-Sun Belt first team by Coastal Carolina forward Tessa Grady, Louisiana Tech forward Jordan Marshall, Appalachian State guard Daisia Mitchell and James Madison guard Bree Robinson.
James Madison led the conference with three preseason all-conference selections, while Louisiana Tech and Appalachian State each placed two players on the three teams.
Arkansas State will open the 2026-27 season on the road against Ball State on Monday, Nov. 2, at 5:30 p.m. The game is part of the MAC-SBC Challenge.
The Red Wolves will play their home opener Nov. 17 against Jackson State, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
2026-27 Sun Belt women’s basketball preseason coaches poll
First-place votes in parentheses.
James Madison (11) — 189
Troy — 166
Arkansas State (1) — 165
Marshall (1) — 151
Louisiana Tech (1) — 148
Old Dominion — 106
Coastal Carolina — 99
Southern Miss — 99
Appalachian State — 79
ULM — 77
Georgia Southern — 62
South Alabama — 61
Louisiana — 42
Georgia State — 26
Preseason All-Sun Belt teams
Preseason Player of the Year
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State, guard
First Team
Tessa Grady, Coastal Carolina, forward
Jordan Marshall, Louisiana Tech, forward
Daisia Mitchell, Appalachian State, guard
Bree Robinson, James Madison, guard
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State, guard
Second Team
Imani Daniel, Louisiana, forward
Aniya Hubbard, Troy, guard
Olivia Olson, Marshall, guard
Zakiya Stephenson, James Madison, guard
Joi Williams, Appalachian State, guard
Third Team
Kayla Cleaveland, Georgia Southern, forward
Grace McDonough, James Madison, forward
Chrysta Narcisse, Southern Miss, guard
Riley Stack, Old Dominion, forward
Alexia Weaver, Louisiana Tech, guard