ATLANTA (March 18, 2026) — Lauren Betts of UCLA, Mikayla Blakes of Vanderbilt, Madison Booker of Texas, and Sarah Strong of Connecticut are the four finalists for the 2026 Wade Trophy, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today. The prestigious award is presented by the WBCA each year to the best player in college women’s basketball.
The Wade Trophy — now in its 49th year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
Carol Blazejowski of Montclair State was the first recipient of the Wade Trophy. Two-time winners include Nancy Lieberman (1979, 1980) of Old Dominion, Seimone Augustus (2005, 2006) of LSU, Brittney Griner (2012, 2013) of Baylor, Breanna Stewart (2015, 2016) of Connecticut, Sabrina Ionescu (2019, 2020) of Oregon, and Caitlin Clark (2023, 2024) of Iowa. Maya Moore (2009, 2010, 2011) of Connecticut is the only three-time recipient.
The WBCA also announced today the 48 finalists for this season’s 10-member WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America team. They are:
| Player | Institution |
| Raegan Beers | Oklahoma |
| Lauren Betts | UCLA |
| Mikayla Blakes | Vanderbilt |
| Madison Booker | Texas |
| Zoe Brooks | North Carolina State |
| Jaloni Cambridge | Ohio State |
| Aaliyah Chavez | Oklahoma |
| Shay Ciezki | Indiana |
| Audi Crooks | Iowa State |
| Jaliya Davis | Kansas |
| Maggie Doogan | Richmond |
| Joyce Edwards | South Carolina |
| Gabby Elliott | Arizona State |
| Toby Fournier | Duke |
| Azzi Fudd | Connecticut |
| Micah Gray | Oklahoma State |
| Rori Harmon | Texas |
| Jordan Harrison | West Virginia |
| Ava Heiden | Iowa |
| Hannah Hidalgo | Notre Dame |
| Uche Izoje | Syracuse |
| Ashlon Jackson | Duke |
| Flau’jae Johnson | LSU |
| Raven Johnson | South Carolina |
| Kymora Johnson | Virginia |
| Ta’Niya Latson | South Carolina |
| Darianna Littlepage-Buggs | Baylor |
| Taina Mair | Duke |
| Bailey Maupin | Texas Tech |
| Liv McGill | Florida |
| Cotie McMahon | Mississippi |
| Brooklyn Meyer | South Dakota State |
| Olivia Miles | Texas Christian |
| Mia Moore | Clemson |
| S’Mya Nichols | Kansas |
| Oluchi Okananwa | Maryland |
| Olivia Olson | Michigan |
| Khamil Pierre | North Carolina State |
| Kiki Rice | UCLA |
| Taliah Scott | Baylor |
| Sayvia Sellers | Washington |
| Sarah Strong | Connecticut |
| Hannah Stuelke | Iowa |
| Marta Suarez | Texas Christian |
| Syla Swords | Michigan |
| Riley Weiss | Columbia |
| Carleigh Wenzel | Virginia Tech |
| Jada Williams | Iowa State |
NCAA Division I head coaches who are WBCA members may nominate players from their own teams for Coaches’ All-America. They then vote for the top players in their respective conference groupings from among those players who are nominated. The top 12 players in each conference grouping advance in the selection process as finalists.
The WBCA NCAA Division I Awards Committee will meet in Phoenix, in conjunction with the annual WBCA Convention to select the 2026 Wade Trophy winner and the 10-member 2026 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America team. Both will be announced on April 2.
Click here for a complete list of past winners of the Wade Trophy. For a list of past WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America teams, click here.
About the WBCA
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 a diverse community of coaches to the 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.
# # #