CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Chattanooga junior Caia Elisaldez is the Southern Conference pick for Preseason Player of the Year the league office announced Wednesday at Media Day in Greenville, S.C. She is joined by sophomore Gianna Corbitt on the Preseason All-Conference Team and the Mocs are the Preseason Favorite to claim the title.
 
Elisaldez was second in the SoCon, averaging 14.1 points per game with 19 3-pointers and was 75.5 percent from the free throw line. The Whittier, Calif., native tied Jan Cameron (1993-94) for 10^th on the Mocs single season list for assists with 151 and was second in the league with 4.9 per game. She hit double figures 24 times last season and scored a career-high 24 points at Furman on February 1 on the road.
 
"Caia has proven to be a dominant force within our conference," Mocs head coach Deandra Schirmer said. "She is now going to have to showcase her leadership for us to have a successful season."
 
Corbitt averaged 11.3 points per game, second most for the Mocs in the 2024-25 campaign. She tallied a career-best 27 points in the Mocs WNIT win over Alabama A&M at the Roundhouse and recorded six double-doubles. Her 7.3 rebounds per game was seventh best in the SoCon and she had a career-high 14 boards against Salem at McKenzie.
 
"Gianna is just getting started and I feel like she has added so many more elements to her game," Schirmer stated. "I am excited to see her growth showcased this season."
 
The conference coaches selected UTC as the preseason favorite to claim the regular season title. Chattanooga has 23 regular season titles, the most in SoCon history, and 20 tournament crowns. The Mocs return two starters and seven letterwinners from their runner-up campaign and add four newcomers to the squad.
 
"Preseason rankings don't win games, but they do set the tone," Schrimer said. "We know we are going into conference with a big target on our back. This season is going to be a battle every night. Our conference is stacked with talent and we are gong to have to earn everything."
 
The season starts November 3 at home against King (TN) University in an Education Day game set to tip off at Noon in the Roundhouse.
 
Season tickets are on sale not at the McKenzie Arena box office and online at GoMocs.com.
 
2025-26 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll 

	Team (1st place votes)	Total
1	Chattanooga (6)	48
2	UNCG (2)	39
3	ETSU	38
4	Wofford	28
5	Furman	26
6	Samford	19
7	Western Carolina	14
8	Mercer	12

 
2025-26 Preseason Southern Conference Player of the Year 
Caia Elisaldez, Jr., G, Chattanooga 
 
2025-26 Preseason All-Southern Conference Team 
Meghan Downing, Sr., F, ETSU 
Carmen Richardson, So., G, ETSU
Clare Coyle, So., F, Furman
Ariana Bennett, Sr., F, Mercer
Makiah Asidanya, Jr., G, UNCG
Jaila Lee, Sr., G, UNCG
Emily Bowman, R-Sr., C, Samford 
Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga
Caia Elisaldez, Jr., G, Chattanooga 
Molly Masingale, So., G, Wofford
 
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