TTT

2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Postseason Honors Announced ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced its 2025-26 women’s basketball all-conference teams and individual award recipients Tuesday live on the Big Ten Network’s “B1G Today” show. UCLA senior center Lauren Betts pulled double duty after being selected as the Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by both the conference coaches and a select panel of Big Ten media members. USC guard Jazzy Davidson was voted Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while UCLA graduate forward Angela Dugalić garnered Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year laurels. UCLA’s Cori Closewas tabbed as the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Betts, who is included on various watch lists for national player of the year awards, repeated as the conference’s defensive player of the year after earning her first postseason accolade last year. The senior helped the Bruins capture their first-ever Big Ten regular-season title with a perfect 18-0 record. Betts earned her first Big Ten Player of the Year nod after averaging a team-leading 16.7 points while shooting 56.8 percent from the field and 8.6 rebounds per game. She is also second in the league with 11 double-double performances this season. Davidson is the first Trojan to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She was voted Big Ten Freshman of the Week seven times and was the USBWA National Tamika Catchings Freshman of the Week on four occasions. Davidson is the only Division I player this season leading their team in points per game (17.9), rebounds per game (5.9), assists per game (4.3), blocks per game (2.0) and steals per game (2.0). For the second year in a row, the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year is a Bruin. Dugalić appeared in 28 games for UCLA this season, averaging 9.1 points and 5.2 rebounds. The Des Plaines, Ill., native is shooting 52.1 percent from the floor and 81.1 percent from the charity stripe. After sweeping the national coach of the year awards a season ago, Close received her first accolade from the Big Ten Conference this year. Under her guidance, UCLA became the fourth program in Big Ten history to be undefeated in conference play, joining Ohio State (1985), Purdue (1999) and Maryland (2015). She has led the Bruins to a 28-1 overall record and the No. 1 seed in the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament. Close has steered her team to 10 wins over ranked opponents and a No. 2 ranking in the national polls. The Bruins also own 14 Quad 1 wins in the NCAA NET Rankings, the top mark in the country, while standing second in assists/turnover ratio (1.72), assists per game (22.1), field goal percentage (.510) and rebounding margin (15.8). Close is also on the watch list for Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year. Betts, Davidson, Illinois sophomore forward Berry Wallace, Iowa sophomore center Ava Heiden, Michigan sophomore guard Olivia Olson, Ohio State sophomore guard Jaloni Cambridge, UCLA senior guard Kiki Rice and Washington junior guard Sayvia Sellers were unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selections by the coaches, while Betts, Davidson, Cambridge and Rice were unanimous honorees by the media. The Big Ten also recognized 18 Sportsmanship Award recipients in the sport of women’s basketball on Tuesday, one from each conference institution. The students chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The complete list of all-conference honorees and individual award winners is below. 2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Honors As selected by Big Ten coaches PLAYER OF THE YEAR Lauren Betts, UCLA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Lauren Betts, UCLA FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Jazzy Davidson, USC SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR Angela Dugalić, UCLA COACH OF THE YEAR Cori Close, UCLA FIRST TEAM BERRY WALLACE, ILLINOIS AVA HEIDEN, IOWA Oluchi Okananwa, Maryland OLIVIA OLSON, MICHIGAN Syla Swords, Michigan JALONI CAMBRIDGE, OHIO STATE LAUREN BETTS, UCLA KIKI RICE, UCLA JAZZY DAVIDSON, USC SAYVIA SELLERS, WASHINGTON SECOND TEAM SHAY CIEZKI, INDIANA Hannah Stuelke, Iowa Kennedy Blair, Michigan State GRACE VANSLOOTEN, MICHIGAN STATE Grace Grocholski, Minnesota Tori McKinney, Minnesota BRITT PRINCE, NEBRASKA Katie Fiso, Oregon Gabriela Jaquez, UCLA Kara Dunn, USC THIRD TEAM Chit-Chat Wright, Iowa Yarden Garzon, Maryland Amaya Battle, Minnesota Grace Sullivan, Northwestern Kiyomi McMiller, Penn State HONORABLE MENTION* Cearah Parchment, Illinois Mila Holloway, Michigan Mara Braun, Minnesota Chance Gray, Ohio State Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA Avery Howell, Washington ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM* Kylie Feuerbach, Iowa Oluchi Okananwa, Maryland Brooke Quarles Daniels, Michigan Amaya Battle, Minnesota Tori McKinney, Minnesota Kennedy Cambridge, Ohio State LAUREN BETTS, UCLA Kiki Rice, UCLA Jazzy Davidson, USC Kennedy Smith, USC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM DESTINY JACKSON, ILLINOIS CEARAH PARCHMENT, ILLINOIS Maya Makalusky, Indiana Addie Deal, Iowa Addi Mack, Maryland Sienna Betts, UCLA JAZZY DAVIDSON, USC BRYNN MCGAUGHY, WASHINGTON 2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Honors As selected by Big Ten media PLAYER OF THE YEAR Lauren Betts, UCLA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Lauren Betts, UCLA FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Jazzy Davidson, USC SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR Angela Dugalić, UCLA COACH OF THE YEAR Cori Close, UCLA FIRST TEAM Shay Ciezki, Indiana Ava Heiden, Iowa Oluchi Okananwa, Maryland Olivia Olson, Michigan Syla Swords, Michigan Britt Prince, Nebraska JALONI CAMBRIDGE, OHIO STATE LAUREN BETTS, UCLA KIKI RICE, UCLA JAZZY DAVIDSON, USC SECOND TEAM Berry Wallace, Illinois Hannah Stuelke, Iowa Kennedy Blair, Michigan State Grace VanSlooten, Michigan State Grace Grocholski, Minnesota Grace Sullivan, Northwestern Kiyomi McMiller, Penn State Gabriela Jaquez, UCLA Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA Sayvia Sellers, Washington THIRD TEAM Amaya Battle, Minnesota Tori McKinney, Minnesota Katie Fiso, Oregon Gracie Merkle, Penn State Kara Dunn, USC HONORABLE MENTION Cearah Parchment, Illinois Chit-Chat Wright, Iowa Yarden Garzon, Maryland Chance Gray, Ohio State Avery Howell, Washington ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM Kylie Feuerbach, Iowa Oluchi Okananwa, Maryland Brooke Quarles Daniels, Michigan Rashunda Jones, Michigan State Kennedy Cambridge, Ohio State Elsa Lemmilä, Ohio State Lauren Betts, UCLA Jazzy Davidson, USC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM Destiny Jackson, Illinois Cearah Parchment, Illinois Maya Makalusky, Indiana Addi Mack, Maryland Kylee Kitts, Ohio State Sienna Betts, UCLA JAZZY DAVIDSON, USC Brynn McGaughy, Washington UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN ALL CAPS * Additional players due to tie in voting 2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Sportsmanship Honorees Gisela Segura, Gr., Illinois Lenée Beaumont, R-So., Indiana Taylor McCabe, Sr., Iowa Saylor Poffenbarger, R-Sr., Maryland Alyssa Crockett, Sr., Michigan Emma Shumate, Sr., Michigan State Sophie Hart, Gr., Minnesota Callin Hake, Sr., Nebraska Lauren Trumpy, Sr., Northwestern Chance Gray, Sr., Ohio State Sofia Bell, Jr., Oregon Vitória Santana, Sr., Penn State Madison Layden-Zay, 5th-Yr., Purdue Kaylah Ivey, Gr., Rutgers Charlisse Leger-Walker, Gr., UCLA Brooklyn Shamblin, So., USC Elle Ladine, Sr., Washington Shay Bollin, Gr., Wisconsin About Us

Always come to her defense and always thought she was good already even when coming off the bench. Then, was good as a starter. She has improved solidly and efficiently as a starter. And even though she is making really good progress there is a very high ceiling to her game as in stardom that has potential to flirt with Super Star.

A couple years ago Makala Blakes had IU in the mix right down to the wire but chose Vandy. She is the very real deal.

I know. I put out false information.

T.D. leading the way for IU with 13 points. It seems like he is 3 for 20 from the field and 5 for 5 for fts.

Not going to end well for IU because they are pretty well SHOT trying to keep up with MSU and won’t have much left for second half.

T.D. and IU can sure shoot the ball, didn’t say they could make them, but they can sure shoot them.

I agree with all that. There are different or graduated levels of success and greatness. And yes T. Moren is the person responsible for what the IU Ladies program has become and will be in the future which is a job overall very well done.

That would be something for this team. However, as many games that can be played including preseason cupcakes in today’s game for both the men and Ladies game even though they are in a major conference the standard should be maybe 23 or 24….or even 25 wins consistently….with real success at 25+ wins and….greatness would include championships.

IU Ladies will have to get another very high level inside player with Noyan and Z. It would be a home run for her and IU if she joins her fellow teammate Gigi Battle and that would be Sara Okeke. Got to get depth inside….and that would be formidable considering who may start, sub in and allowing for possible injury. Zoe is somewhat of a wildcard but adding to depth as a freshman and eventually a sophomore. Yes, IU Ladies are playing much better vs the bottom half of the Big Ten. If it could play itself out it would be interesting to play Maryland in big ten tournament. Some IU Ladies are not the same players earlier including Makalusky and Caffey. Can the IU Ladies be the surprise of the big ten tournament this year…not winning it but winning 2 or 3 games.

Good road win for this version of IU Ladies. E.N. excellent board game.

After Oregon game that she played well….Edessa Noyan said she thought she has it figured out. It was difficult and took time. In first half vs Rutgers on the road tonight Edessa Noyan with 0 points and 2 turnovers. No not figured it out and need to go back to the drawing board for second half.…..7 rebounds though.

Tennessee Ladies basketball has never missed the NCAA MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT since its inception in 1982….that’s 43 years of straight uninterrupted appearances.

IU football is finally going to have a modern day coach to go out with overall winning record….and conference winning record…..and a bowl games winning record….at least one conference championship and maybe more….and at least one national championship and maybe more….when he completes his time at IU….a Great big winning record.

Actually, in 2026-27 IU could be as good as 2025-26 but lose a couple games in big ten and playoff or they could run the table again. Who would have thought in 2025-26 (I did think undefeated regular season was a possibility)…. And who is thinking of a 2026-27 possible repeat….Coach Cig and the whole Coaching Staff….Just google them. Pre season schedule North Texas Green Machine was very good in 2025. Western Kentucky was solid also.