Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Gabriela Jaquez Named to 2026 Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watch List
October 29, 2025 | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. โ Senior Gabriela Jaquez has been named to the 2026 Cheryl Miller Award preseason top 20 watch list, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Thursday.
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The Cheryl Miller Award, in its ninth year, honors the top small forwards in women's Division I women's college basketball.
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Jaquez had a career year for her junior campaign, starting 33 of her 36 appearances. She averaged career-bests in field goal percentage (.523 FG%) and 3-point percentage (.348 3FG%), scoring 9.6 points and collecting 5.3 rebounds per game. She played 23.0 minutes per appearance and finished the year with 34 turnovers, less than one per game. She was named Big Ten Winter Academic Honor Roll, Rainbow Wahine Showdown All-Tournament Team, Spokane 1 Regional All-Region Team and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media).
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Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, October 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Erving, Miller, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller 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 Erving and Miller 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), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), 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 Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #ErvingAward, and #MillerAward on X and Instagram.
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2026 Cheryl Miller Award Candidates
Bella Fontleroy โ Baylor
Jadyn Donovan โ Duke
Jordan Obi โ Kentucky
Skylar Jones โ Louisville
Mikaylah Williams โ LSU
Adrianna Smith โ Maine
Yarden Garzon โ Maryland
Olivia Olson โ Michigan
Grace VanSlooten โ Michigan State
Grace Slaughter โ Missouri
Nyla Harris โ North Carolina
Sahara Williams โ Oklahoma
Stailee Heard โ Oklahoma State
Cotie McMahon โ Ole Miss
Tierra Simon โ Richmond
Maryam Dauda โ South Carolina
Zee Spearman โ Tennessee
Madison Booker โ Texas
Gabriela Jaquez โ UCLA
Caroline Ducharme โ UConn
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The Cheryl Miller Award, in its ninth year, honors the top small forwards in women's Division I women's college basketball.
ย
Jaquez had a career year for her junior campaign, starting 33 of her 36 appearances. She averaged career-bests in field goal percentage (.523 FG%) and 3-point percentage (.348 3FG%), scoring 9.6 points and collecting 5.3 rebounds per game. She played 23.0 minutes per appearance and finished the year with 34 turnovers, less than one per game. She was named Big Ten Winter Academic Honor Roll, Rainbow Wahine Showdown All-Tournament Team, Spokane 1 Regional All-Region Team and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media).
ย
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, October 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Erving, Miller, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller 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 Erving and Miller 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), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), 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 Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #ErvingAward, and #MillerAward on X and Instagram.
ย
2026 Cheryl Miller Award Candidates
Bella Fontleroy โ Baylor
Jadyn Donovan โ Duke
Jordan Obi โ Kentucky
Skylar Jones โ Louisville
Mikaylah Williams โ LSU
Adrianna Smith โ Maine
Yarden Garzon โ Maryland
Olivia Olson โ Michigan
Grace VanSlooten โ Michigan State
Grace Slaughter โ Missouri
Nyla Harris โ North Carolina
Sahara Williams โ Oklahoma
Stailee Heard โ Oklahoma State
Cotie McMahon โ Ole Miss
Tierra Simon โ Richmond
Maryam Dauda โ South Carolina
Zee Spearman โ Tennessee
Madison Booker โ Texas
Gabriela Jaquez โ UCLA
Caroline Ducharme โ UConn
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Players Mentioned
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