The women’s basketball team is ranked No. 13 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, the highest the team has ever been ranked in a preseason poll. The Colonials finished last season ranked 11th after a Sweet Sixteen loss to North Carolina in the NCAA tournament.

The Colonials face two teams this season that are ranked in the preseason poll: No. 3 Rutgers Nov. 18 and No. 11 Texas A&M Dec. 20. They also face five teams, Auburn, Xavier, Western Kentucky, Kentucky and Temple, that received votes.

In addition, senior Kim Beck was named one of 30 preseason candidates for the Wooden Award, which honors the nation’s top women’s basketball player.

GW faces the DT-3 All-Stars in an exhibition game Friday evening at 7 p.m. at Smith Center before opening the regular season Nov. 12 at Virginia.