UConn's powerhouse duo is back in the headlines, as guard Azzi Fudd and forward Sarah Strong both made the 2026 Naismith Player of the Year shortlist this week.
Rounding out the quartet of Naismith finalists is UCLA center Lauren Betts and Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes, with Strong heavily considered this season's frontrunner after picking up 2025/26 USBWA Player of the Year honors on Wednesday.
Sideline leaders also earned Naismith nods this week, as the 2026 Coach of the Year shortlist features Geno Auriemma (UConn), Cori Close (UCLA), Vic Schaefer (Texas), and first-time finalist Shea Ralph (Vanderbilt).
Voted in by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's committee of journalists, coaches, former winners, and conference commissioners, Betts and Strong also featured on the Defensive Player of the Year shortlist, joined by West Virginia senior Jordan Harrison and Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo.
"This year's finalist class represents the best of women's college basketball," said Atlanta Tipoff Club president Eric Oberman. "The competition for each of these awards…speaks to the standard of excellence these individuals have set throughout the season."
How to vote for the Naismith Women's College Basketball Awards
Fans can once again help choose this season's winners, with online voting now open until 12 PM ET on Monday.
The Naismith Awards will announce the 2026 winners on Wednesday, April 1st, in the leadup to the Final Four.
