WBCA announces 2025-26 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls

ATLANTA (July 21, 2026) – University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Mercy University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Bethel University (Tennessee), and Trinity Valley Community College sit atop their respective divisions in the 2025-26 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls announced today by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes college women’s basketball teams across the nation in their respective divisions that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. A team must have a combined GPA of 3.0 or better and be nominated by its head coach who must be a member of the WBCA to be recognized. The 2025-26 season is the 31st in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.

Green Bay, coached by Kayla Karius, finished first among NCAA Division I members for the second straight year with a 3.965 cumulative team grade-point average, which is also best overall across all membership divisions. Mercy, coached by Scott Lagas, claimed top academic honors in NCAA Division II with a 3.853 GPA. Nebraska Wesleyan, coached by Sydney Golladay, took top honors in NCAA Division III with a 3.897 GPA. Bethel, coached by Chris Nelson, was No. 1 in the NAIA division with a 3.829 GPA. Trinity Valley, coached by Precious Ivy, finished atop the two-year college standings with a 3.777 GPA.

“The WBCA is pleased to recognize those women’s basketball programs that have committed themselves to excellence on the court and in the classroom,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew.  “The 119 ranked teams we honor this year across all five collegiate membership divisions strive to achieve all-around success and we commend their efforts. Congratulations!”

Here are the 2025-26 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls. The head coach listed for each institution was its head coach during the 2025-26 season. Teams that qualified for consideration in their respective divisions are listed as special mentions.

NCAA Division I

RankInstitutionHead CoachGPA
1Green BayKayla Karius3.965
2North Dakota St.Jory Collins3.926
3UAlbanyColleen Mullen3.826
4Youngstown St.Melissa Jackson3.820
5ChattanoogaDeandra Schirmer3.807
6Western Ill.JD Gravina3.785
7MaineAmy Vachon3.777
8Texas TechKrista Gerlich3.769
9South Dakota St.Aaron Johnston3.762
10Washington St.Kamie Ethridge3.759
11Montana St.Tricia Binford3.757
12South DakotaCarrie Eighmey3.754
13Iowa StateBill Fennelly3.749
14Saint Peter’sJennifer Leedham3.741
15Eastern Wash.Joddie Gleason3.735
16CincinnatiKatrina Merriweather3.714
17DrakeAllison Pohlman3.707
18MilwaukeeKyle Rechlicz3.699
19FairfieldCarly Thibault-DuDonis3.698
20Cleveland St.Chris Kielsmeier3.693
21Utah ValleyDan Nielson3.677
22Middle Tenn.Rick Insell3.674
T23ToledoGinny Boggess3.664
T23LipscombLauren Sumski3.664
T25DavidsonGayle Fulks3.651
T25KansasBrandon Schneider3.651

Special Mention: Northern Ky., Jeff Hans, 3.650; Portland, Michael Meek, 3.648; American, Kelly Killion, 3.647; Virginia Tech, Megan Duffy, 3.643; BYU, Lee Cummard, 3.639; Rice, Lindsay Edmonds, 3.634; Drexel, Amy Mallon, 3.628; Illinois, Shauna Green, 3.624; Boise St., Gordy Presnell, 3.623; Saint Joseph’s, Cindy Griffin, 3.618; Louisiana Tech, Brooke Stoehr, 3.615; George Mason, Vanessa Blair-Lewis, 3.612; Wisconsin, Robin Pingeton, 3.611; UCLA, Cori Close, 3.610; ETSU, Brenda Mock Brown, 3.606; UNI, Tanya Warren, 3.606; Stonehill, Trisha Brown, 3.605; Kent St., Fran Recchia, 3.602; SIUE, Samantha Smith, 3.599; Abilene Christian, Julie Goodenough, 3.597; Marshall, Juli Fulks, 3.597; Purdue Fort Wayne, Maria Marchesano, 3.590; Wright St., Kari Hoffman, 3.588; Evansville, Robyn Scherr, 3.586; Eastern Mich., Sahar Nusseibeh, 3.585; Tennessee Tech, Kim Rosamond, 3.583; Wichita St., Terry Nooner, 3.581; Lafayette, Kia Damon-Olsen, 3.580; Villanova, Denise Dillon, 3.580; Minnesota, Dawn Plitzuweit, 3.577; Iona, Angelika Szumilo, 3.574; Marist, Erin Doughty, 3.572; Gardner-Webb, Terri Williams, 3.571; Northern Colo., Kristen Mattio, 3.568; Dayton, Tamika Jeter, 3.553; Missouri, Kellie Harper, 3.553; Rhode Island, Tammi Reiss, 3.549; Bowling Green, Fred Chmiel, 3.548; Santa Clara, Loree Payne, 3.548; DePaul, Jill M. Pizzotti, 3.545; NJIT, Mike Lane, 3.537; Wyoming, Heather Ezell, 3.534; North Texas, Jason Burton, 3.528; Ga. Southern, Hana Haden, 3.527; NIU, Jacey Brooks, 3.526; East Texas A&M, Valerie King, 3.525; Michigan St., Robyn Fralick, 3.523; Wake Forest, Megan Gebbia, 3.522; Arizona St., Molly Miller, 3.518; St. Bonaventure, Jim Crowley, 3.516; Loyola Maryland, Danielle O’Banion, 3.514; UC Santa Barbara, Renee Jimenez, 3.508; Manhattan, Heather Vulin, 3.506; South Carolina, Dawn Staley, 3.506; West Georgia, Joanna Reitz, 3.502; Lehigh, Addie Micir, 3.500; Temple, Diane Richardson, 3.494; Longwood, Erika Lang-Montgomery, 3.493; Colorado St., Ryun Williams, 3.492; East Carolina, Kimberly McNeill, 3.484; Florida St., Brooke Wyckoff, 3.481; Texas, Vic Schaefer, 3.479; Detroit Mercy, Kiefer Haffey, 3.476; UAB, Randy Norton, 3.474; Fla. Atlantic, LeAnn Freeland, 3.469; UC Irvine, Tamara Inoue, 3.456; Creighton, Jim Flanery, 3.453; Oregon St., Scott Rueck, 3.450; Liberty, Alexis Sherard, 3.443; North Carolina, Courtney Banghart, 3.442; Kentucky, Kenny Brooks, 3.436; St. John’s, Joe Tartamella, 3.430; Princeton, Carla Berube, 3.428; South Fla., Michele Woods-Baxter, 3.428; Nebraska, Amy Williams, 3.426; Utah, Gavin Petersen, 3.421; Sacred Heart, Jessica Mannetti, 3.421; Ohio St., Kevin McGuff, 3.406; Bradley, Kate Popovec-Goss, 3.402; Tulsa, Angie Nelp, 3.393; Louisville, Jeff Walz, 3.374; Notre Dame, Niele Ivey, 3.373; Penn, Mike McLaughlin, 3.371; Harvard, Carrie Moore, 3.370; South Alabama, Yolisha Jackson, 3.365; Duke, Kara Lawson, 3.354; Hofstra, Danielle Santos Atkinson, 3.350; Marquette, Cara Consuegra, 3.349; Stony Brook, Joy McCorvey, 3.339; Columbia, Megan Griffith, 3.334; Washington, Tina Langley, 3.331; UT Martin, Kevin McMillan, 3.330; Vanderbilt, Shea Ralph, 3.328; Akron, Ryan Gensler, 3.323; Southeastern La., Jeffrey Dow, 3.306; Belmont, Bart Brooks, 3.301; Xavier, Billi Chambers, 3.298; Seton Hall, Anthony Bozzella, 3.297; Tennessee, Kim Caldwell, 3.285; Yale, Dalila Eshe, 3.269; Rider, Jackie Hartzell, 3.259; Elon, Charlotte Smith, 3.257; Charlotte, Tomekia Reed, 3.247; California, Charmin Smith, 3.244; Rutgers, Coquese Washington, 3.243; Portland St., Karlie Burris, 3.234; UNC Asheville, Tynesha Lewis, 3.233; Southern California, Lindsay Gottlieb, 3.212; West Virginia, Mark Kellogg, 3.183; Baylor, Nicki Collen, 3.178; Mississippi, Yolett McPhee-McCuin, 3.176; Iowa, Jan Jensen, 3.171; Georgetown, Darnell Haney, 3.039.

NCAA Division II

 RankInstitutionHead CoachGPA
1MercyScott Lagas3.853
2Fla. SouthernMegan Dzikas3.849
3Embry-Riddle (FL)Lisa Wilson3.841
4Northwestern Okla.Tasha Diesselhorst3.826
5East StroudsburgLiz Flooks3.825
6Southwest Minn. St.Tom Webb3.811
7Colorado MesaTaylor Wagner3.797
8Goldey-BeacomBethann Burke3.790
9Fort Hays St.Talia Kahrs3.787
10HardingTim Kirby3.776
11Lubbock ChristianSteve Gomez3.775
12NorthwoodAutumn Hunter3.772
13MaryvilleBrita Hand3.770
14Southern N.H.Karen Pinkos3.759
15MSU MoorheadKarla Nelson3.757
16GannonCleve Wright3.755
T17Northern Mich.Casey Thousand3.752
T17Point LomaCharity Elliott3.752
19Upper IowaJustin Maass3.740
20Sioux FallsTravis Traphagen3.732
21Northern St.Paula Krueger3.730
22Ouachita BaptistNick Long3.729
23St. Cloud St.Lori Fish3.726
24McKendreeKari Kerkhoff3.724
25MaloneSelana Ickes3.716

Special Mention: Central Mo., Dave Slifer, 3.710; Post, Courtney Burns, 3.705; Texas Woman’s, Beth Jillson, 3.703; Lee, Marty Rowe, 3.686; Mont. St. Billings, Kevin Woodin, 3.683; Northwest Mo. St., Austin Meyer, 3.680; Tampa, Tom Jessee, 3.678; Barry, Allison Bustamante, 3.674; Kutztown, Janet Malouf, 3.673; Cal Poly Pomona, Danelle Bishop, 3.669; Georgian Court, Jazz Perazic, 3.667; Ferris St., Kurt Westendorp, 3.661; Eckerd, Paul Honsinger, 3.661; Rockhurst, Larry Park, 3.655; Chaminade, J. Travis Brewster, 3.653; Ill. Springfield, Olivia Birt, 3.651; Carson-Newman, Mike Mincey, 3.643; Ashland, Kari Pickens, 3.640; UVA Wise, Jamie Cluesman, 3.638; Davenport, Shonda Sanders, 3.628; Winona St., Ana Wurtz, 3.628; Menlo, Shannon Spataro, 3.617; Truman St., Theo Dean, 3.616; Tex. A&M-Kingsville, Michael Madrid, 3.615; Black Hills St., Kelly Kruger, 3.597; Wis.-Parkside, Jen Conely, 3.596; West Liberty, Kyle Cooper, 3.591; Fairmont St., Stephanie Anderson, 3.587; Chestnut Hill, Megan Fox, 3.585; Pace, Carrie Seymour, 3.579; Saginaw Valley, Jenny Pruett, 3.577; D’Youville, Kelly Broderick, 3.572; Drury, Kaci Bailey, 3.568; St. Mary’s (TX), Valerie Huizar, 3.551; Edinboro, Callie Wheeler, 3.549; USC Aiken, Brittany Batts, 3.546; Bentley, Carolyn White, 3.532; Wayne St. (MI), Carrie Lohr, 3.528; Bridgeport, James Howard, 3.521; Minnesota St., Emilee Thiesse, 3.513; Mary, Rick Neumann, 3.510; Shepherd, Julie Kaufman, 3.506; Cal St. East Bay, Jenny Thigpin, 3.482; Okla. Baptist, Bo Overton, 3.461; Kentucky St., Amani Williams, 3.460; Wingate, Ann Hancock, 3.422; Newman, Amy Briggs, 3.408; Mount Olive, Joey Higginbotham, 3.407; UC Merced, Kellie Bernard, 3.404; Assumption, Kerry Phayre, 3.403; Cal St. Monterey Bay, Sarah Hopkins-Chery, 3.363; Hillsdale, Brianna Brennan, 3.329; Cal State LA, Torino Johnson, 3.308; Union, Mark Campbell, 3.269; Emory & Henry, Jaclyn Dickens, 3.255; Cal St. San Marcos, Jana Pearson, 3.191; Valdosta St., Chandler Merkerson, 3.189; Augusta, Celeste Stewart, 3.039.

NCAA Division III

RankInstitutionHead CoachGPA
1Neb. WesleyanSydney Golladay3.897
2HamlineJoshua Hersch3.847
3MITLucia Robinson-Griggs3.846
4Saint BenedictMike Durbin3.842
T5St. CatherineDonald Mulhern3.826
T5DubuqueMadeline Jansen3.826
7SUNY CantonChris Klassen3.821
8AlbionDoreen Carden3.815
9Colorado Col.Katherine Auguste3.793
10EmersonBill Gould3.784
11GuilfordSarah Mathews3.783
12MessiahMike Miller3.782
13CarthageMegan Jones3.780
14ShenandoahMelissa Smeltzer-Kraft3.778
15Gustavus AdolphusLaurie Kelly3.777
16Hardin-SimmonsKendra Whitehead3.774
17SmithLynn Hersey3.771
18ThielJessica Vormelker3.766
19Baldwin WallaceCheri Harrer3.765
20St. John FisherSarah Cartmill3.764
21MiddleburyKJ Krasco3.758
22Wis.-Eau ClaireTonja Englund3.757
23Wis.-Stevens PointMatt Hockett3.743
T24HopeBrian Morehouse3.738
T24TrineAndrew Rang3.738

Special Mention: Mount Union, Suzy Venet Pietz, 3.737; Dickinson, Aby Diop, 3.737; Wis.-Oshkosh, Brad Fischer, 3.736; Chicago, Michelle Gardner-Bilek, 3.729; Bowdoin, Megan Phelps, 3.727; Johns Hopkins, Rodney Rogan, 3.721; Wash. & Lee, Brittney Kemp, 3.721; Wartburg, Bob Amsberry, 3.721; Williams, Pat Manning, 3.718; Trinity, Maria Williamson, 3.709; WashU, Lisa Stone, 3.708; Redlands, Rich Murphy, 3.705; Huelsman, Mark Huelsman, 3.704; Cedar Crest, Jason Rhine, 3.700; Widener, Alisa Kintner, 3.695; Concordia-M’head, Kim Wagers, 3.691; Manhattanville, Kate Vlahakis, 3.689; Benedictine, Oliver Wiseman, 3.688; Buena Vista, Kylee Boettcher, 3.688; Houghton, Phil Pellegrino, 3.683; CWRU, Jennifer Reimer, 3.677; Husson, Kissy Walker, 3.674; NYU, Meg Barber, 3.673; Elizabethtown, Veronica Nolt, 3.672; Otterbein, Diana Noles, 3.671; SUNY Plattsburgh, Ben Sarraf, 3.669; Susquehanna, Gabrielle Holko, 3.662; Carnegie Mellon, Kathy McConnell-Miller, 3.662; Marywood, Tara Macciocco, 3.660; UW-Stout, Samantha Clayton, 3.647; Wis.-River Falls, Shelby Lyman, 3.646; Ohio Wesleyan, Cody Hartzler, 3.644; Oberlin, Stephany Dunmyer, 3.642; Occidental, Anahit Aladzhanyan, 3.641; Waynesburg, Sam Jones, 3.638; La Verne, Anthony Mason, 3.637; John Carroll, Elizabeth Andrews, 3.634; St. Norbert, Amanda Perry, 3.632; Lawrence, Riley Woldt, 3.627; Elmira, Thad Phillips, 3.625; William Paterson, Erin Monahan, 3.622; Illinois Wesleyan, Mia Smith, 3.620; Luther, Amanda Bailey, 3.618; Simpson, Brian Niemuth, 3.611; Manchester, Josh Dzurick, 3.608; Chatham, David Saur, 3.605; Bryn Mawr, Carla Coleman, 3.601; Utica, Allison Coleman, 3.599; Macalester, AD Donovan, 3.597; Claremont-M-S, Chanel Murchison, 3.596; Penn College, Britni Mohney, 3.589; Denison, Maureen Hirt, 3.589; Wis.-Platteville, Kelly McNiff, 3.589; SUNY Brockport, Corinne Jones, 3.585; Bard, Alaina Walker, 3.583; Moravian, Mary Beth Spirk, 3.580; Calvin, Mark Christner, 3.578; Suffolk, Ed Leyden, 3.577; Stevens, Megan Haughey, 3.575; Penn St. Harrisburg, Ross Patrick, 3.573; RIT, Melissa Kuberka, 3.571; Emory, Misha Jackson, 3.571; Randolph-Macon, Lindsey Burke, 3.570; Gallaudet, Stephanie Stevens, 3.567; Chris. Newport, Bill Broderick, 3.563; Kenyon, Mary Corbett, 3.563; UMN-Morris, Tim Grove, 3.556; Yeshiva, Orri Cohen, 3.542; Alfred, Michael Moskowitz, 3.541; Caltech, Madison Quan, 3.54; Hunter, John Garrett, 3.534; Bethany Lutheran, Emma Purfeerst, 3.532; Salisbury, Aprile Guy, 3.531; DePauw, Kristin Huffman, 3.531; Marietta, Jenna Andersen, 3.531; Lakeland, Ashley Lona, 3.530; Arcadia, Diane Decker, 3.529; Edgewood, Kole Vivian, 3.528; Buffalo St., Scott Foster, 3.520; Wooster, Olivia Besancon, 3.513; Catholic, Matt Donohue, 3.509; Chapman, Carol Jue, 3.502; Marian (WI), Josh Ward, 3.502; Ursinus, Bobbi Morgan, 3.498; Regis, Samantha Crough, 3.494; Mary Washington, Deena Applebury, 3.489; Rochester, James Scheible, 3.482; Roger Williams, Kelly Thompson, 3.481; Anderson (IN), Jon Gin, 3.479; Colby-Sawyer, Tim Viola, 3.471; Westminster, Rosanne Scott, 3.465; McDaniel, Christin Gowan, 3.458; Rhode Island Col., Jenna Cosgrove, 3.451; Lehman, Eric Harrison, 3.451; Principia, Ramiro Dominguez, 3.444; Franklin & Marshall, Brianna Spector, 3.429; Illinois Tech, Carissa Sain, 3.426; Gettysburg, Nate Davis, 3.425; Eastern Conn. St., Mandy King, 3.423; Kalamazoo, Ryan Clark, 3.422; Ozarks, Seth McDowell, 3.421; Babson, Kate Barnosky, 3.415; Immaculata, Brittany Whalen, 3.411; Webster, Jordan Olufson, 3.405; St. Mary’s (MD), LaTanya Collins, 3.401; Coe, Kayla Waskow, 3.400; Mt. St. Mary (NY), Marion Dietz, 3.393; Capital, Camille McPherson, 3.390; Central (IA), Justin Weiland, 3.366; DeSales, Fred Richter, 3.364; Willamette, Peg Swadener, 3.320; Stevenson, Jackie Boswell, 3.318; Mount Aloysius, Brian Giesler, 3.281; Hendrix, Wes Sullivan, 3.259; Gordon, Carter Shaw, 3.218; Keuka, Paige Emborsky, 3.211; Millsaps, Jeffery Wilbur, 3.189; UMPI, Mark Knight, 3.188.

NAIA

RankInstitutionHead CoachGPA
1Bethel (TN)Chris Nelson3.829
2HastingsJina Douglas3.811
3TaborShawn Reed3.808
4SoutheasternJoshua Epperson3.800
5GraceDan Davis3.774
6Grand ViewJasmine Stohr3.746
7John BrownSydni Webb3.730
8Lewis-Clark St.Caelyn Orlandi3.716
9Indiana TechJessica Biggs3.712
10Ottawa (KS)Hunter Bondurant3.695
11CarrollRachelle Sayers3.693
12TaylorCassie Wiseman3.678
13Culver-StocktonJanette Burgin3.651
14Indiana KokomoLisa Pflueger3.649
15Wayland BaptistJordan Vessels3.646
16Providence (MT)William Himmelberg3.626
17Embry-Riddle (AZ)Michael Trujillo3.616
18Okla. Panhandle St.Maria Belt3.607
19Central MethodistDustyn Yung3.601
20Northwestern (IA)Chris Yaw3.598
21Southern OregonCarlotta Kloppenburg-Pruitt3.587
22Columbia Col.Matthew Moore3.576
23PikevilleClifton Williams3.452
24Peru St.Mike Sybrant3.444
25Truett McConnellTiek Fields3.404

Special Mention: Hope International, Jessica Case, 3.352; Indiana East, Shawn Chaffin, 3.349; Our Lady of the Lake, Ryan Showman, 3.271; Shawnee St., DeWayne Burroughs, 3.122.

Two-Year College*

RankInstitutionHead CoachGPA
1Trinity ValleyPrecious Ivy3.777
2ColbyDarin Spence3.730
3Folsom LakeAli Mollet3.659
4AngelinaAddie Lees3.621
5Minnesota WestRosalie Hayenga3.581
6Southern NevadaDaniel Savage3.577
7Northern Okla.-EnidMichael Dominguez3.562
8New Mexico JCAustin Mefford3.548
9Northeast Miss.Brian Middleton3.443
10TaftRomeo Lagmay3.406
11CypressBrittany Imaku3.348
12Southwestern Ore.Heather Weber3.329
13San Joaquin DeltaGina Johnon3.307
14LassenDarren Turpin Jr.3.271
15Johnson CountyBen Conrad3.257
16Iowa WesternZach Loll3.216
17BakersfieldGrant Bingham3.127
18Sacramento CityCaleb Theodore3.097

* Only 18 institutions were eligible for ranking in the two-year college division.

A team’s GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) earned by the total number of academic hours attempted by all team members in the academic terms (semesters or quarters) that the season spans. Weighted grades are converted to a 4.0 scale. The GPAs are rounded to the nearest thousandth of a point. Teams must be nominated for the honor by their head coach who must be a WBCA member. A team must have a 3.000 or better GPA to be nominated.

About the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association

The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.

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