KANSAS CITY, Mo.--Cumberland University women's golf will open the 2026-27 season ranked No. 14 in the NAIA Women's Golf Coaches' Preseason Top 25, the national office announced Friday.

The Phoenix received 259 points in the preseason rating following a strong 2025-26 campaign that culminated with a return to the NAIA National Championship. Cumberland just missed the cut at the national championship and finished in 17th place. 

Cumberland also finished runner-up at the Mid-South Conference Championship last spring and returns a strong core from last season's squad, including NAIA All-American and Mid-South Conference Golfer of the Year Matilda Lind.

Lind headlines four returning All-Mid-South Conference selections for the Phoenix. Lucy Labdon, Alba McCorquodale, and Crystal Zamzow also earned all-conference honors last season and return to bolster Cumberland's lineup in 2026-27.

The Phoenix are one of three Mid-South Conference teams ranked in the preseason Top 25. Cumberlands leads the conference at No. 7, followed by Lindsey Wilson at No. 13, and Cumberland at No. 14.

Defending national champion SCAD (Ga.) earned the No. 1 ranking after receiving 11 of the 17 first-place votes and 457 points. Keiser (Fla.) checks in at No. 2, followed by Dalton State (Ga.), British Columbia, and Marian (Ind.) to round out the top five.

The preseason poll is the first of three NAIA ratings scheduled for the fall. The next two polls will be released Oct. 16 and Oct. 30. Four additional ratings will be released in the spring, culminating with the final poll on May 13 to help determine at-large selections for the 2027 NAIA Women's Golf National Championship in Dalton, Ga.

The Phoenix will open up the 2026-27 season at the Wildcat Fall Invite hosted by Indiana Wesleyan on Monday and Tuesday September 7-8.