IUWBB - News and Notes

[HoosierHoopster]

2 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Shay might be an innocent victim of the team’ overall performance.

Exactly. 

[HoosierHoopster]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

FWIW, the first team is ten slots.  

While Shay has been pretty much the whole offense, the unquestioned team leader, and has shot the ball incredibly well for a player that gets tons of defensive attention, she is also a small guard that has more turnovers than assists, and she made the first team on the media side. 

With an 18 team conference, to be deemed about the 8th-12th best player at 5'7" on a below average team is really awesome. And for the coach's poll, every first team member is on a team from the top half of the conference, so there's a stated trend there.

Respectfully Stu it's about team standing, Shay's numbers absolutely make her first team. If she played for one of the top teams she'd be first team.

[Stuhoo]

22 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Respectfully Stu it's about team standing, Shay's numbers absolutely make her first team. If she played for one of the top teams she'd be first team.

Agree!!

If she played for one of those top teams and put up anywhere near those numbers she'd be one million percent first team.

 

[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

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Tyra is not pleased!

Though perhaps some of that stems from being married to a total doofus. LOL. 
 

 

[HoosierHoopster]

50/40/90 club is elite among elite

[TTT]

IU women’s basketball looking forward with confidence with postseason looking unlikely

By Seth TowMarch 11, 2026WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 1 Comment

Lenée Beaumont (right) against Northwestern. (Photo credit IU Athletics)

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana women’s basketball has yet to officially finalize any postseason plans, but it doesn’t look like a program preparing for further game action in the 2025-26 season.

At 18-14 overall, the Hoosiers are unlikely to make the NCAA Tournament — they’re listed as the final team in the “next four out” in ESPN’s Women’s Bracketology. After their loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament, head coach Teri Moren said she had not yet thought about whether the program would accept a WNIT or WBIT invitation, and that she’d lean on seniors Shay Ciezki and Jerni Kiaku in making that decision. And an IU spokesperson said the program is still evaluating its options.

But comments from redshirt sophomore Lenée Beaumont, along with some other signs, suggest Indiana already knows what it’s doing.

“I don’t know if it’s public or not, but it will be. We will not be in any WNIT or anything,” Beaumont said during IU’s open locker room period on Thursday. “Just because, I mean, for a bunch of reasons, but obviously, a lot of these girls came here to go play in March, in March Madness tournament, as well as myself, and that’s the standard, so… ”

Beaumont said that in the locker room mere minutes before Moren showed less certainty over the plan.The program may wait until it’s officially left out on Selection Sunday to finalize anything. But the tea leaves point to the Hoosiers moving on to next year.

Indiana had a challenging campaign in 2025-26. This was a very new team going into the season, with only one returning starter and four underclassmen in the starting lineup. One of those starters left the team in December, and other injuries and player development lulls left IU with a thin rotation by March.

Photo credit Indiana Athletics

But more than anything, this was a group that just didn’t fully grasp what it took to win at the Big Ten level. Ciezki was the only player with extensive experience in the conference, and with so many new pieces and all the team’s youth, some things just didn’t quite click.

Indiana was coming off a very successful stretch of seasons behind Mackenzie Holmes, Grace Berger, and others, but Beaumont is the only player remaining in the program who shared the court with any of them.

“Honestly, I think a lot of the stuff that didn’t work for our group was just lessons that you gotta learn with experience. … I think a big part of it early on in the Big Ten is, it is so hard to win in the Big Ten, and I don’t think a lot of us knew that, or you wouldn’t know that unless you played in the Big Ten or been on a winning program,” Beaumont told The Daily Hoosier. “I’ve been able to see some of the greats through this program, watch and learn from them through my years. I had the luxury of learning that, but a lot of these (girls) have not. And so, I think going forward, these experiences are only going to benefit us.”

IU’s future, however, looks promising.

Ciezki will depart after posting one of the best individual seasons in Hoosiers history, and it’s likely they’ll see players enter the transfer portal, as everyone does. But they have some good, young pieces returning next year.

Beaumont will be the team’s veteran leader as a redshirt junior, Maya Makalusky and Nevaeh Caffey will look to build on strong freshmen seasons, and IU will hope center Zania Socka-Nguemen can stay healthy after an injury-riddled sophomore year. Forward Edessa Noyan spoke in the locker room like a player planning on returning to Bloomington, as well.

Nevaeh Caffey against Wisconsin (Photo credit IU Athletics)

Though the team’s February resurgence appears unlikely to make a postseason impact this year, it could have a positive effect on those young players going forward.

“I feel like what worked is us just staying together as a whole and trusting each other, and having confidence. None of use really did know each other (going into the season). None of us knew how each other played. So just sticking together there,” Caffey told TDH. “And I feel like the way we can grow next year is, I feel like we’re already growing right now throughout the season, even though this season is over. But we found each other ways in how to play with each other.”

Additionally, Indiana can look forward to a strong incoming freshman class, perhaps the best of Moren’s tenure, entering its 13th year. ESPN ranked the Hoosiers’ class of 2026 No. 8 in the country, with three top-75 players. It’s plausible for any — or multiple — of wing Addison Nyemchek, combo guard GiGi Battle, and point guard Ashlinn James to become quick contributors next season. Combine that with Beaumont, Caffey, and Makalusky going into an offseason with a full year of extensive action under their belts, and IU has reason for hope.

Of course, there are scenarios where things go awry. Any unexpected transfers from the aforementioned returnees would hurt, and if the Hoosiers miss in the transfer portal as much as they did this past season, things could get messy.

But Beaumont, the team’s returning figurehead, is expressing confidence.

“I couldn’t be more excited for what we have in store for us,” she said. “We got an elite recruiting class, and whoever decides to come with us, we’ll be in a really good position with coach Moren.”

For complete coverage of IU women’s basketball, GO HERE. 

---

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 I WOULD SAY PROCEED WITH CAUTION.  A couple things still need to fall in place….Retention, Transfer Portal Help and or teammate of Gigi Battle.  More talent needed.  

Thus far early on the transfer portal is slim pickens.

That back half of big ten wins were good but misleading if going to effectively compete in front half of big ten….that would approach nearer to 25+ wins season and dig up more fan interest.

[HoosierHoopster]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

IU women’s basketball looking forward with confidence with postseason looking unlikely

By Seth TowMarch 11, 2026WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 1 Comment

Lenée Beaumont (right) against Northwestern. (Photo credit IU Athletics)

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana women’s basketball has yet to officially finalize any postseason plans, but it doesn’t look like a program preparing for further game action in the 2025-26 season.

At 18-14 overall, the Hoosiers are unlikely to make the NCAA Tournament — they’re listed as the final team in the “next four out” in ESPN’s Women’s Bracketology. After their loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament, head coach Teri Moren said she had not yet thought about whether the program would accept a WNIT or WBIT invitation, and that she’d lean on seniors Shay Ciezki and Jerni Kiaku in making that decision. And an IU spokesperson said the program is still evaluating its options.

But comments from redshirt sophomore Lenée Beaumont, along with some other signs, suggest Indiana already knows what it’s doing.

“I don’t know if it’s public or not, but it will be. We will not be in any WNIT or anything,” Beaumont said during IU’s open locker room period on Thursday. “Just because, I mean, for a bunch of reasons, but obviously, a lot of these girls came here to go play in March, in March Madness tournament, as well as myself, and that’s the standard, so… ”

Beaumont said that in the locker room mere minutes before Moren showed less certainty over the plan.The program may wait until it’s officially left out on Selection Sunday to finalize anything. But the tea leaves point to the Hoosiers moving on to next year.

Indiana had a challenging campaign in 2025-26. This was a very new team going into the season, with only one returning starter and four underclassmen in the starting lineup. One of those starters left the team in December, and other injuries and player development lulls left IU with a thin rotation by March.

Photo credit Indiana Athletics

But more than anything, this was a group that just didn’t fully grasp what it took to win at the Big Ten level. Ciezki was the only player with extensive experience in the conference, and with so many new pieces and all the team’s youth, some things just didn’t quite click.

Indiana was coming off a very successful stretch of seasons behind Mackenzie Holmes, Grace Berger, and others, but Beaumont is the only player remaining in the program who shared the court with any of them.

“Honestly, I think a lot of the stuff that didn’t work for our group was just lessons that you gotta learn with experience. … I think a big part of it early on in the Big Ten is, it is so hard to win in the Big Ten, and I don’t think a lot of us knew that, or you wouldn’t know that unless you played in the Big Ten or been on a winning program,” Beaumont told The Daily Hoosier. “I’ve been able to see some of the greats through this program, watch and learn from them through my years. I had the luxury of learning that, but a lot of these (girls) have not. And so, I think going forward, these experiences are only going to benefit us.”

IU’s future, however, looks promising.

Ciezki will depart after posting one of the best individual seasons in Hoosiers history, and it’s likely they’ll see players enter the transfer portal, as everyone does. But they have some good, young pieces returning next year.

Beaumont will be the team’s veteran leader as a redshirt junior, Maya Makalusky and Nevaeh Caffey will look to build on strong freshmen seasons, and IU will hope center Zania Socka-Nguemen can stay healthy after an injury-riddled sophomore year. Forward Edessa Noyan spoke in the locker room like a player planning on returning to Bloomington, as well.

Nevaeh Caffey against Wisconsin (Photo credit IU Athletics)

Though the team’s February resurgence appears unlikely to make a postseason impact this year, it could have a positive effect on those young players going forward.

“I feel like what worked is us just staying together as a whole and trusting each other, and having confidence. None of use really did know each other (going into the season). None of us knew how each other played. So just sticking together there,” Caffey told TDH. “And I feel like the way we can grow next year is, I feel like we’re already growing right now throughout the season, even though this season is over. But we found each other ways in how to play with each other.”

Additionally, Indiana can look forward to a strong incoming freshman class, perhaps the best of Moren’s tenure, entering its 13th year. ESPN ranked the Hoosiers’ class of 2026 No. 8 in the country, with three top-75 players. It’s plausible for any — or multiple — of wing Addison Nyemchek, combo guard GiGi Battle, and point guard Ashlinn James to become quick contributors next season. Combine that with Beaumont, Caffey, and Makalusky going into an offseason with a full year of extensive action under their belts, and IU has reason for hope.

Of course, there are scenarios where things go awry. Any unexpected transfers from the aforementioned returnees would hurt, and if the Hoosiers miss in the transfer portal as much as they did this past season, things could get messy.

But Beaumont, the team’s returning figurehead, is expressing confidence.

“I couldn’t be more excited for what we have in store for us,” she said. “We got an elite recruiting class, and whoever decides to come with us, we’ll be in a really good position with coach Moren.”

For complete coverage of IU women’s basketball, GO HERE. 

---

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

• Find us on Instagram, X, and Facebook
• Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.

 I WOULD SAY PROCEED WITH CAUTION.  A couple things still need to fall in place….Retention, Transfer Portal Help and or teammate of Gigi Battle.  More talent needed.  

Thus far early on the transfer portal is slim pickens.

That back half of big ten wins were good but misleading if going to effectively compete in front half of big ten….that would approach nearer to 25+ wins season and dig up more fan interest.

Everyone has their own viewpoint / vantage point but the article I think is dead on accurate.

The core (Lenee, Caffey, Socka, Maya, Noyan) is very good, the incoming class is very good, the end of season play should help with retention of the core players and the current frosh will be sophs with a year of B1G play under their belts, and there's zero sign that Moren is leaving / retiring etc. But the article also specifically points out there are scenarios where things could go awry including an unexpected transfer (or transfers) and not hitting in the portal. So late spring-summer will tell us more.