| INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Nine All-Americans from last season highlighted by first-teamers Lauren Betts of UCLA and Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame are among 50 top players who make up the preseason watch list for the 2025-26 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award created by the board of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
The Ann Meyers Drysdale Award is presented annually to the women’s national player of the year by the USBWA. Named for the legendary UCLA guard, the award was first presented in the 1987-88 season and formally named in Meyers Drysdale’s honor in the 2011-12 season. Ann Meyers Drysdale played at UCLA from 1974-78, which pre-dates the USBWA All-America selections. She was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership. The winner of the award will be announced at the 2026 Women’s Final Four in Phoenix, with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
Betts, a center at UCLA, was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the Big Ten Tournament Most Valuable Player after a season in which she led the Bruins to a No. 1 ranking for most of the season, a 30-2 record and a trip to the Women’s Final Four. She averaged 19.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game on the season. Hidalgo. was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year with averages of 24.2 poilnts and 3.7 steals per game, the fourth-best steals mark nationally.
Four of the second-teamers from a year ago are on the list. Mikayla Blakes of Vanderbilt was the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Year after a season averaging 23.2 points per game, the seventh-highest total nationally. Madison Booker led Texas to a 15-1 conference record in its first season in the SEC averaging 16.2 points per game. There are two transfers of note on the list. Ta’Niya Latson begins her first season with South Carolina, last year’s national runner-up, following three seasons at Florida State. Latson was the nation’s leading scorer last season, averaging 24.9 points per game and was the USBWA’s 2023 Tamika Catchings Award winner. Olivia Miles is now at TCU after four seasons at Notre Dame that included the second-team All-America nod last year.
Defending national champion UConn has two players on the watch list: Sarah Strong, a third-team USBWA All-American last season and the Big East Freshman of the Year, and Azzi Fudd. Two other third-team All-Americans also return. Audi Crooks of Iowa State was a first-team All-Big 12 selection with averages of 23.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Flau’Jae Johnson led LSU in scoring at 18.9 points per game as an All-SEC member.
Also on the preseason list are Raegan Beers of Oklahoma and Joyce Edwards of South Carolina, both honorable mention All-America picks last season.
| 2025-26 ANN MEYERS DRYSDALE AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST (50) |
| Janiah Barker, Tennessee |
Raven Johnson, South Carolina |
| Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy |
Reniya Kelly, North Carolina |
| Raegan Beers, Oklahoma |
Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA |
| Lauren Betts, UCLA |
Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina |
| Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt |
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor |
| Madison Booker, Texas |
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison |
| Carla Brito, USF |
Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss |
| Zoe Brooks, NC State |
Olivia Miles, TCU |
| Addy Brown, Iowa State |
Oluchi Okananwa, Maryland |
| Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee |
Olivia Olson, Michigan |
| Audi Crooks, Iowa State |
Khamil Pierre, NC State |
| Maggie Doogan, Richmond |
Kiki Rice, UCLA |
| Charlise Dunn, Davidson |
Sayvia Sellers, Washington |
| Joyce Edwards, South Carolina |
Kaylene Smikle, Maryland |
| Toby Fournier, Duke |
Madison St. Rose, Princeton |
| Azzi Fudd, UConn |
Clara Strack, Kentucky |
| MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU |
Sarah Strong, UConn |
| Yarden Garzon, Maryland |
Hannah Stuelke, Iowa |
| Delaney Gibb, BYU |
Syla Swords, Michigan |
| Rori Harmon, Texas |
Allie Turner, Gonzaga |
| Jordan Harrison, West Virginia |
Rachel Ullstrom, Richmond |
| Stailee Heard, Oklahoma State |
Grace VanSlooten, Michigan State |
| Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame |
Riley Weiss, Columbia |
| Flau’Jae Johnson, LSU |
Mikaylah Williams, LSU |
| Kymora Johnson, Virginia |
Laura Ziegler, Louisville |
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 800 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485. |
