Photo by: UCLA Athletics
Four Bruins Named to Wooden Award Top 50 Women’s Watch List
November 18, 2025 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Four UCLA student-athletes have been included in the 2025-26 Women's Preseason Top 50 Watchlist for the John R. Wooden Award®, presented by Principal, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Tuesday.
Graduate student Gianna Kneepkens is joined by seniors Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice, as well as freshman Sienna Betts, on the early season watch list. UCLA is one of four schools with four or more student-athletes on the list; the Bruins join LSU, South Carolina and UConn as the best-represented programs in the nation.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2026 John R. Wooden Award® Women's Player of the Year. Players not selected for the list remain eligible for inclusion on the Wooden Award® midseason, late-season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot will feature 15 top players who have demonstrated to their universities that they meet or exceed the Wooden Award® qualifications.
Celebrating its fiftieth year, the Wooden Award will feature special programming throughout the season with first winner and ambassador Marques Johnson, culminating in the 2026 John R. Wooden Award presented by Principal. Winners and All Americans will be honored at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 10, 2026.
About the John R. Wooden Award®
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award Program hosts the most prestigious honors in college basketball, recognizing the Wooden Award Most Outstanding Player for men and women, the Wooden Award All-America Teams for men and women, and the annual selection of the Wooden Award Legends of Coaching recipient.
Honorees are certified by their universities as meeting Wooden Award standards established by Coach Wooden, including progress toward graduation and at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Past winners include Larry Bird 1979, Michael Jordan 1984, Tim Duncan 1997, Kevin Durant 2007, Candace Parker 2007 and 2008, Maya Moore 2009 and 2011, Chiney Ogwumike 2014, and last year's recipients Juju Watkins of USC and Cooper Flagg of Duke.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed nearly one million dollars to universities' general scholarship funds and nonprofit enterprises in the names of the Wooden Award All-American recipients, and has sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps.
The John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long event brings together Special Olympics athletes, Wooden Award All-Americans, and attending coaches. It is hosted at the Los Angeles Athletic Club during John R. Wooden Award Weekend.
The mission of the John R. Wooden Award Foundation (JRWAF) is to promote teamwork, academic excellence, and character development, reflecting the enduring values of John R. Wooden. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the JRWAF serves as an angel organization, independently guiding the funding of educational, athletic, and philanthropic initiatives. A dedicated board of directors leads the Foundation's efforts, committed to advancing John R. Wooden's legacy and the timeless principles of his Pyramid of Success.
The Legends of Coaching Award will be presented alongside the Wooden Award Men's and Women's Players of the Year on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. For the latest updates, visit WoodenAward.com and follow @WoodenAward on X, Instagram, and Threads; to learn more about the Los Angeles Athletic Club, visit LAAC.com
John R. Wooden Award®, presented by Principal, 2025-26 Women's Preseason Top 50 Watchlist
Janiah Barker – Tennessee – Senior – F – 6-4
Jasmine Bascoe – Villanova – Sophomore – G – 5-7
Raegan Beers – Oklahoma – Senior – C – 6-4
Lauren Betts – UCLA – Senior – C – 6-7
Sienna Betts – UCLA – Freshman – F – 6-4
Mikayla Blakes – Vanderbilt – Sophomore – G – 5-8
Madison Booker – Texas – Junior – F – 6-1
Zoe Brooks – NC State – Junior – G – 5-10
Addy Brown – Iowa State – Junior – F – 6-2
Jaloni Cambridge – Ohio State – Sophomore – G – 5-7
Aaliyah Chavez – Oklahoma – Freshman – G – 5-10
Talaysia Cooper – Tennessee – Redshirt JR – G – 6-0
Audi Crooks – Iowa State – Junior – C – 6-3
Jasmine "Jazzy" Davidson – USC – Freshman – G – 6-1
Addie Deal – Iowa – Freshman – G – 6-1
Joyce Edwards – South Carolina – Sophomore – F – 6-3
Toby Fournier – Duke – Sophomore – F – 6-2
Azzi Fudd – UConn – Grad student – G – 5-11
MiLaysia Fulwiley – LSU – Junior – G – 5-10
Rori Harmon – Texas – Grad student – G – 5-6
Kayleigh Heckel – UConn – Sophomore – G – 5-9
Hannah Hidalgo – Notre Dame – Junior – G – 5-6
Ashlon Jackson – Duke – Senior – G – 6-0
Flau'jae Johnson – LSU – Senior – G – 5-10
Kymora Johnson – Virginia – Junior – G – 5-7
Raven Johnson – South Carolina – Senior – G – 5-9
Reniya Kelly – North Carolina – Junior – G – 5-7
Chloe Kitts – South Carolina – Senior – F – 6-2
Gianna Kneepkens – UCLA – Grad student – G – 6-0
Grace Knox – LSU – Freshman – F – 6-2
Kate Koval – LSU – Sophomore – F – 6-5
Ta'Niya Latson – South Carolina – Senior – G – 5-8
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs – Baylor – Senior – G/F – 6-1
Agot Makeer – South Carolina – Freshman – G – 6-1
Cotie McMahon – Ole Miss – Senior – F – 6-0
Olivia Miles – TCU – Grad student – G – 5-10
S'Mya Nicholls – Kansas – Junior – G – 6-0
Olivia Olson – Michigan – Sophomore – G – 6-1
Khamil Pierre – NC State – Junior – F – 6-2
Gal Raviv – Miami – Sophomore – G – 5-9
Kiki Rice – UCLA – Senior – G – 5-11
Zee Spearman – Tennessee – Senior – F – 6-4
Sarah Strong – UConn – Sophomore – F – 6-2
Madison St. Rose – Princeton – Senior – G – 5-10
Hannah Stuelke – Iowa – Senior – F – 6-2
Syla Swords – Michigan – Sophomore – G – 6-0
Mikaylah Williams – LSU – Junior – G – 6-0
Serah Williams – UConn – Senior – F – 6-4
Payton Verhulst – Oklahoma – Redshirt senior – G – 6-1
Laura Ziegler – Louisville – Senior – F – 6-2
Graduate student Gianna Kneepkens is joined by seniors Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice, as well as freshman Sienna Betts, on the early season watch list. UCLA is one of four schools with four or more student-athletes on the list; the Bruins join LSU, South Carolina and UConn as the best-represented programs in the nation.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2026 John R. Wooden Award® Women's Player of the Year. Players not selected for the list remain eligible for inclusion on the Wooden Award® midseason, late-season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot will feature 15 top players who have demonstrated to their universities that they meet or exceed the Wooden Award® qualifications.
Celebrating its fiftieth year, the Wooden Award will feature special programming throughout the season with first winner and ambassador Marques Johnson, culminating in the 2026 John R. Wooden Award presented by Principal. Winners and All Americans will be honored at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 10, 2026.
About the John R. Wooden Award®
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award Program hosts the most prestigious honors in college basketball, recognizing the Wooden Award Most Outstanding Player for men and women, the Wooden Award All-America Teams for men and women, and the annual selection of the Wooden Award Legends of Coaching recipient.
Honorees are certified by their universities as meeting Wooden Award standards established by Coach Wooden, including progress toward graduation and at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Past winners include Larry Bird 1979, Michael Jordan 1984, Tim Duncan 1997, Kevin Durant 2007, Candace Parker 2007 and 2008, Maya Moore 2009 and 2011, Chiney Ogwumike 2014, and last year's recipients Juju Watkins of USC and Cooper Flagg of Duke.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed nearly one million dollars to universities' general scholarship funds and nonprofit enterprises in the names of the Wooden Award All-American recipients, and has sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps.
The John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long event brings together Special Olympics athletes, Wooden Award All-Americans, and attending coaches. It is hosted at the Los Angeles Athletic Club during John R. Wooden Award Weekend.
The mission of the John R. Wooden Award Foundation (JRWAF) is to promote teamwork, academic excellence, and character development, reflecting the enduring values of John R. Wooden. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the JRWAF serves as an angel organization, independently guiding the funding of educational, athletic, and philanthropic initiatives. A dedicated board of directors leads the Foundation's efforts, committed to advancing John R. Wooden's legacy and the timeless principles of his Pyramid of Success.
The Legends of Coaching Award will be presented alongside the Wooden Award Men's and Women's Players of the Year on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. For the latest updates, visit WoodenAward.com and follow @WoodenAward on X, Instagram, and Threads; to learn more about the Los Angeles Athletic Club, visit LAAC.com
John R. Wooden Award®, presented by Principal, 2025-26 Women's Preseason Top 50 Watchlist
Janiah Barker – Tennessee – Senior – F – 6-4
Jasmine Bascoe – Villanova – Sophomore – G – 5-7
Raegan Beers – Oklahoma – Senior – C – 6-4
Lauren Betts – UCLA – Senior – C – 6-7
Sienna Betts – UCLA – Freshman – F – 6-4
Mikayla Blakes – Vanderbilt – Sophomore – G – 5-8
Madison Booker – Texas – Junior – F – 6-1
Zoe Brooks – NC State – Junior – G – 5-10
Addy Brown – Iowa State – Junior – F – 6-2
Jaloni Cambridge – Ohio State – Sophomore – G – 5-7
Aaliyah Chavez – Oklahoma – Freshman – G – 5-10
Talaysia Cooper – Tennessee – Redshirt JR – G – 6-0
Audi Crooks – Iowa State – Junior – C – 6-3
Jasmine "Jazzy" Davidson – USC – Freshman – G – 6-1
Addie Deal – Iowa – Freshman – G – 6-1
Joyce Edwards – South Carolina – Sophomore – F – 6-3
Toby Fournier – Duke – Sophomore – F – 6-2
Azzi Fudd – UConn – Grad student – G – 5-11
MiLaysia Fulwiley – LSU – Junior – G – 5-10
Rori Harmon – Texas – Grad student – G – 5-6
Kayleigh Heckel – UConn – Sophomore – G – 5-9
Hannah Hidalgo – Notre Dame – Junior – G – 5-6
Ashlon Jackson – Duke – Senior – G – 6-0
Flau'jae Johnson – LSU – Senior – G – 5-10
Kymora Johnson – Virginia – Junior – G – 5-7
Raven Johnson – South Carolina – Senior – G – 5-9
Reniya Kelly – North Carolina – Junior – G – 5-7
Chloe Kitts – South Carolina – Senior – F – 6-2
Gianna Kneepkens – UCLA – Grad student – G – 6-0
Grace Knox – LSU – Freshman – F – 6-2
Kate Koval – LSU – Sophomore – F – 6-5
Ta'Niya Latson – South Carolina – Senior – G – 5-8
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs – Baylor – Senior – G/F – 6-1
Agot Makeer – South Carolina – Freshman – G – 6-1
Cotie McMahon – Ole Miss – Senior – F – 6-0
Olivia Miles – TCU – Grad student – G – 5-10
S'Mya Nicholls – Kansas – Junior – G – 6-0
Olivia Olson – Michigan – Sophomore – G – 6-1
Khamil Pierre – NC State – Junior – F – 6-2
Gal Raviv – Miami – Sophomore – G – 5-9
Kiki Rice – UCLA – Senior – G – 5-11
Zee Spearman – Tennessee – Senior – F – 6-4
Sarah Strong – UConn – Sophomore – F – 6-2
Madison St. Rose – Princeton – Senior – G – 5-10
Hannah Stuelke – Iowa – Senior – F – 6-2
Syla Swords – Michigan – Sophomore – G – 6-0
Mikaylah Williams – LSU – Junior – G – 6-0
Serah Williams – UConn – Senior – F – 6-4
Payton Verhulst – Oklahoma – Redshirt senior – G – 6-1
Laura Ziegler – Louisville – Senior – F – 6-2
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