Photo by: Jan Kim Lim
Sienna Betts Named to 2026 Katrina McClain Award Preseason Watch List
October 30, 2025 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES โ Freshman Sienna Betts has been named to the 20-candidate preseason watch list for the 2026 Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Thursday.
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The Katrina McClain Award, now in its ninth year, recognizes the top power forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
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The Bruin freshman comes to Westwood as the number-two ranked recruit in theย 2025 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankingsย according to espnW. Betts was named Colorado's Gatorade Player of the Year in girls basketball for the 2024-25 season and for the third-consecutive year. Betts averaged 23.0 points, 16.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.4 blocks and 2.3 steals this past season at Grandview High School, where she won her third state championship in four years. She had 27 double-doubles in 28 games played.
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Betts is expected to miss the season opener, per The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close's media availability on Oct. 29.
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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 Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone, McClain, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain 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 Malone and McClain 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), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
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For more information on the 2026 Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #MaloneAward, and #McClainAward on X and Instagram.
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2026 Katrina McClain Award Candidates
Essence Cody โ Alabama
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs โ Baylor
Toby Fournier โ Duke
Meghan Andersen โ Fairfield
Allie Kubek โ Florida State
Hannah Stuelke โ Iowa
Addy Brown โ Iowa State
Amiya Joyner โ LSU
Mir McLean โ Maryland
Khamil Pierre โ NC State
Natalie Potts โ Nebraska
Latasha Lattimore โ Ole Miss
Maggie Doogan โ Richmond
Joyce Edwards โ South Carolina
Nunu Agara โ Stanford
Janiah Barker โ Tennessee
Sienna Betts โ UCLA
Sarah Strong โ UConn
Sacha Washington โ Vanderbilt
Sa'Myah Smith โ Virginia
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The Katrina McClain Award, now in its ninth year, recognizes the top power forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
ย
The Bruin freshman comes to Westwood as the number-two ranked recruit in theย 2025 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankingsย according to espnW. Betts was named Colorado's Gatorade Player of the Year in girls basketball for the 2024-25 season and for the third-consecutive year. Betts averaged 23.0 points, 16.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.4 blocks and 2.3 steals this past season at Grandview High School, where she won her third state championship in four years. She had 27 double-doubles in 28 games played.
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Betts is expected to miss the season opener, per The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close's media availability on Oct. 29.
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 Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone, McClain, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain 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 Malone and McClain 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), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
ย
For more information on the 2026 Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #MaloneAward, and #McClainAward on X and Instagram.
ย
2026 Katrina McClain Award Candidates
Essence Cody โ Alabama
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs โ Baylor
Toby Fournier โ Duke
Meghan Andersen โ Fairfield
Allie Kubek โ Florida State
Hannah Stuelke โ Iowa
Addy Brown โ Iowa State
Amiya Joyner โ LSU
Mir McLean โ Maryland
Khamil Pierre โ NC State
Natalie Potts โ Nebraska
Latasha Lattimore โ Ole Miss
Maggie Doogan โ Richmond
Joyce Edwards โ South Carolina
Nunu Agara โ Stanford
Janiah Barker โ Tennessee
Sienna Betts โ UCLA
Sarah Strong โ UConn
Sacha Washington โ Vanderbilt
Sa'Myah Smith โ Virginia
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballUCLA W. Basketball Media Availability - Players (Oct. 29, 2025)
Wednesday, October 29
UCLA W. Basketball Media Availability - Coach Close (Oct. 29, 2025)
Wednesday, October 29
UCLA W. Basketball Media Availability - Players (Oct. 1, 2025)
Wednesday, October 01
UCLA W. Basketball Media Availability - Coach Cori Close (Oct. 1, 2025)
Wednesday, October 01