INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Twenty standout first-year players have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025-26 Tamika Catchings Award by the board of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
The USBWA has named a national freshman player of the year since the 1991-92 season. In the 2020-21 season the award was named for Tamika Catchings, the legendary Tennessee star who was a three-time USBWA All-American and the association's national freshman player of the year in the 1997-98 season.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, who are then voted on by the entire membership. The winner of the award will be announced at the 2026 Women's Final Four in Phoenix, with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
Last year's winner was high-scoring first-year Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes, who rewrote the Southeastern Conference's freshman record book while leading the Commodores to a second straight NCAA Tournament scoring 23.3 points per game.
Following is the complete 2025-26 Tamika Catchings Award preseason watch list:
| 2025-26 TAMIKA CATCHINGS AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST (20) | |
| Dee Alexander, Cincinnati | Leah Macy, Notre Dame |
| Sienna Betts, UCLA | Agot Makeer, South Carolina |
| Nyla Brooks, North Carolina | Brynn McGaughy, Washington |
| Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma | Jasmine Nivar, Campbell |
| Aaliyah Crump, Texas | Mia Pauldo, Tennessee |
| Jazzy Davidson, USC | Blanca Quiñonez, UConn |
| Addie Deal, Iowa | Emilee Skinner, Duke |
| Ines Garcia, Davidson | Lara Somfai, Stanford |
| Lena Girardi, Oklahoma State | Hailee Swain, Stanford |
| Grace Knox, LSU | Nylah Wilson, Pitt |
The USBWA was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 800 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at malcolm@usbwa.com.