The BIG EAST Conference announced preseason women's basketball awards on Wednesday morning just hours before the start of Media Day at Madison Square Garden. Butler was picked to finish eighth in the Preseason Coaches' Poll and guard Caroline Strande was one of 10 players to earn a spot on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
 
Strande was a Second Team All-BIG EAST selection at the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign after leading the Bulldogs in points (15.1), rebounds (7.1), and assists (2.8) per game. Strande led BU in scoring 17 times last year and reached double figures in 27 contests. A starter in all 32 games, Strande ranked 10th in the conference in scoring and ninth in rebounding.
 
The top three vote getters in the preseason poll were UConn (100), Creighton (91) and Providence (71). St. John's (67) edged Georgetown (66) for fourth place and Villanova (56) was close behind in sixth. Seton Hall (51) appeared just above BU (46) in the poll while DePaul (24), Marquette (23) and Xavier (10) rounded out the teams.
 
UConn and Creighton claimed the top two spots for the second-straight year while Providence made the biggest jump from a year ago, moving from nine to three. Georgetown is also on the rise moving from 10 to five.
 
BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
UConn – 100 (10 first-place votes)
Creighton – 91 (1)
Providence – 71
St. John's - 67
Georgetown – 66
Villanova – 56
Seton Hall – 51
Butler – 46
DePaul – 24
Marquette - 23
Xavier - 10

BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year – Paige Bueckers, UConn, R-Sr., G

BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year – Sarah Strong, UConn, Fr., F

BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Caroline Strande, Butler, Gr., G
KK Arnold, UConn, So., G
Azzi Fudd, UConn, R-Jr., G
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, So., G
Lauren Jensen, Creighton, Sr., G
Morgan Maly, Creighton, Sr., G/F
Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown, Gr., G
Olivia Olsen, Providence, Sr., F
Grace Efosa, Providence, Gr., G
Ber'Nyah Mayo, St. John's, R-Sr., G

Honorable Mention
Kaitlyn Chen, UConn, Gr., 
Jorie Allen, DePaul, Gr., F
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, So., G