Photo by: Jan Kim Lim
Gianna Kneepkens Selected to Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Preseason Watch List
October 28, 2025 | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. โ Graduate guard Gianna Kneepkens has been named to the 2026 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award preseason top 20 watch list, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Tuesday.
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The Ann Meyers Drysdale Award honors the top shooting guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball, named after the UCLA alumna and 1993 Hall of Famer. Meyers Drysdale was the first player to be named to an All-America Team in four-consecutive seasons and led UCLA to its first AIAW national championship in 1978.
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Kneepkens joins the Bruins after a four-year stint at Utah; she was named 2022 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year for her efforts across 33 games in her debut season. During her senior season in 2024-25, the shooting guard averaged 19.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.03 assists and 1.03 steals per game. An extremely efficient scorer, she shot 50.4 percent from the field, 44.8 percent from three and 89.0 percent from the free throw line. She finished her career with the Utes at No. 3 on the school's all-time 3-pointers made list (248 3FGM) and boasts 1,621 career points. Kneepkens logged three 30-point games during her senior campaign.
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Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, October 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to West's family, Meyers Drysdale, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
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The winner of the 2026 West and Meyers Drysdale Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
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For more information on the 2025 Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #WestAward, and #MeyersDrysdaleAward on X and Instagram.
2026 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Candidates
Talia Scott โ Baylor
Delaney Gibb โ BYU
Lulu Twindale โ Cal
Ashlon Jackson โ Duke
Elle Evans โ Kansas
Tajianna Roberts โ Louisville
Flau'jae Johnson โ LSU
Kaylene Smikle โ Maryland
Syla Swords โ Michigan
Zamareya Jones โ NC State
Payton Verhulst โ Oklahoma
Rachel Ullstrom โ Richmond
Ta'Niya Latson โ South Carolina
Laila Phelia โ Syracuse
Ruby Whitehorn โ Tennessee
Gianna Kneepkens - UCLA
Azzi Fudd โ UConn
Destiny Leo โ UNLV
Kara Dunn โ USC
Mikayla Blakes โ Vanderbilt
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The Ann Meyers Drysdale Award honors the top shooting guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball, named after the UCLA alumna and 1993 Hall of Famer. Meyers Drysdale was the first player to be named to an All-America Team in four-consecutive seasons and led UCLA to its first AIAW national championship in 1978.
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Kneepkens joins the Bruins after a four-year stint at Utah; she was named 2022 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year for her efforts across 33 games in her debut season. During her senior season in 2024-25, the shooting guard averaged 19.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.03 assists and 1.03 steals per game. An extremely efficient scorer, she shot 50.4 percent from the field, 44.8 percent from three and 89.0 percent from the free throw line. She finished her career with the Utes at No. 3 on the school's all-time 3-pointers made list (248 3FGM) and boasts 1,621 career points. Kneepkens logged three 30-point games during her senior campaign.
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Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, October 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to West's family, Meyers Drysdale, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
ย
The winner of the 2026 West and Meyers Drysdale Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
ย
For more information on the 2025 Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #WestAward, and #MeyersDrysdaleAward on X and Instagram.
2026 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Candidates
Talia Scott โ Baylor
Delaney Gibb โ BYU
Lulu Twindale โ Cal
Ashlon Jackson โ Duke
Elle Evans โ Kansas
Tajianna Roberts โ Louisville
Flau'jae Johnson โ LSU
Kaylene Smikle โ Maryland
Syla Swords โ Michigan
Zamareya Jones โ NC State
Payton Verhulst โ Oklahoma
Rachel Ullstrom โ Richmond
Ta'Niya Latson โ South Carolina
Laila Phelia โ Syracuse
Ruby Whitehorn โ Tennessee
Gianna Kneepkens - UCLA
Azzi Fudd โ UConn
Destiny Leo โ UNLV
Kara Dunn โ USC
Mikayla Blakes โ Vanderbilt
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