ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Four Illinois State softball standouts were selected to the 2025 preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference Team and the Redbirds were selected fourth in the annual MVC preseason poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches on Tuesday. Seniors Delainey Bryant and Bella Wilkerson highlighted the Redbird quartet selected as preseason All-MVC selections, and they were joined by sophomores Adisyn Hopkins and Paige McLeod on the annual list.
Reigning back-to-back Missouri Valley Tournament Champion Southern Illinois was picked as the league's preseason favorite, as the Salukis received 129 points and four first-place votes.