by NEW ORLEANS – Jakayla Johnson and Meloney Thames were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First and Third Team, respectively, while Southern Miss was predicted to finish fifth in the 2025-26 standings the league announced today.
“The Sun Belt Conference is an extremely tough league with great coaches and great players,” said first-year Lady Eagle head coach Missy Bilderback. “To have two of our players represented on the preseason teams is exciting, as is the coaches’ decision to pick us fifth in the conference standings. Jakayla and Meloney are outstanding players on our team and will definitely play a key role in achieving our goals this season.”
Thames (Philadelphia, Miss.) started in 29 games last season at ULM, finishing ninth in the Sun Belt with 13.1 points per game. In her first full season at the Division I level, she reached double-figures in 16 games and charted at least 20 points in six contests. Her 56 three-point baskets led the Warhawks last season and were six-most in the conference. Her 208 attempts beyond the arc ranked 65th in Division I and fifth in the Sun Belt. The honor is Thames’ first career preseason conference honor, though she did earn All-MACCC First Team, All-NJCAA Region 23 and NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors in each season at Jones College.
