By Kane McGuire, Louisiana Tech Associate Athletic Director/Strategic Communications and Digital Marketing; featured photo by Josh McDaniel
RUSTON — Louisiana Tech sophomore guard Paris Bradley was named the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year, while sophomore forward Jordan Marshall joined her on the 10-member CUSA All-Preseason Team in an announcement made by the league office last week.
The Lady Techsters were also voted by league coaches as the preseason favorite, edging out Liberty and Middle Tennessee in the poll.
Bradley burst onto the scene last season as the CUSA Freshman of the Year, starting all 34 games and averaging a team-high 14.4 points to go along with 3.0 assists per game. She ranked among the best freshmen in program history, finishing top 10 in several statistical categories including eighth in total points (489), third in three-pointers made (47), and second in minutes played (1,100).
Her resume included eight 20-point games – the most by a Lady Techster freshman since the 1978-79 season – and a career-high 29 points against WKU. She also delivered in big moments, most notably hitting the game-winning shot against Liberty with 2.7 seconds left.
Marshall, the other half of LA Tech’s sophomore duo, was equally impactful as a rookie. She earned CUSA All-Freshman honors after averaging 11.6 points and a team-best 8.6 rebounds per game while starting every contest.
Marshall ranked among the nation’s leaders with 11 double-doubles – the second most by a freshman in the country and the third most by a Lady Techster freshman.
LA Tech, led by 10th-year head coach Brooke Stoehr, won 18 games last season and look to carry over its momentum after reaching the CUSA Tournament semifinals and making a run to the Great 8 of the WNIT.
2025-26 CUSA Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Louisiana Tech (5)
2. Liberty (5)
3. Middle Tennessee (2)
4. Missouri State
5. WKU
6. FIU
7. Sam Houston
T-8. UTEP
T-8. Kennesaw State
10. New Mexico State
11. Delaware
12. Jacksonville State
CUSA Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Paris Bradley, Louisiana Tech
2025-26 CUSA Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Parris Atkins, FIU
Mya Barnes, Jacksonville State
Keyarah Berry, Kennesaw State
Avery Mills, Liberty
Emmy Stout, Liberty
Paris Bradley, Louisiana Tech
Jordan Marshall, Louisiana Tech
Alyana Contreras, Middle Tennessee
Faith Lee, Missouri State
Deborah Ogayemi, Sam Houston
Ivane Tensaie, UTEP