Azzi Fudd Headlines 2026 Naismith Women's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team

Heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, the Naismith organization has unveiled its list of late-season contenders for the 2025-26 Women's College Basketball Player of the Year award.

The list is led by Connecticut teammates Sarah Strong, Azzi Fudd and UCLA superstar Lauren Betts. Here are all the players who made the late-season team.

Naismith Women's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team

Lauren Betts, C, UCLA

Sarah Strong, F Connecticut

Azzi Fudd, G, Connecticut

Joyce Edwards, F, South Carolina

Madison Booker, F, Texas

Mikayla Blakes, G, Vanderbilt

Hannah Hidalgo, G, Notre Dame

Olivia Olson, G, Michigan

Reagan Beers, C, Oklahoma

Aaliyah Chavez, G, Oklahoma

Audi Crooks, G, Iowa State

Jaloni Cambridge, G, Ohio State

Jazzy Davidson, G, USC

Maggie Doogan, F, Richmond

Toby Fournier, F, Duke

Rori Harmon, G, Texas

Ava Heiden, C, Iowa

Flau'Jae Johnson, G, LSU

Ta'Niya Latson, G, South Carolina

Cotie McMahon, F, Mississippi

Olivia Miles, G, TCU

Oluchi Okananwa, G, Maryland

Khamil Pierre, F, North Carolina State

Kiki Rice, G, UCLA

Taliah Scott, G, Baylor

Sayvia Sellers, G, Washington

Clara Strack, C, Kentucky

Syla Swords, G, Michigan

Grace VanSlooten, F, Michigan

Mikaylah Williams, G, LSU

Strong has put together a resume more than worthy of making her the first Huskies player to win the Naismith Award since Paige Bueckers in 2020-21. The sophomore sensation leads the team in scoring average (19.2 points per game), rebounds (7.5), steals (3.2) and blocks (1.6) per game.

Fudd has found another level to her game this season. The fifth-year senior is averaging a career-high 17.8 points and ranks fourth in the nation with a 46.3 three-point percentage on 6.5 attempts per game.

UConn is the nation's lone remaining undefeated team, with 26 of its 27 wins by double-digits, so it would be hard to make a case against either Strong or Fudd as the best player given how dominant they have been.

Arguably the top challenger to Strong for the award is Mikayla Blakes. The Vanderbilt guard leads the nation in scoring average with 26.3 points per game, while also averaging 4.6 assists and 3.0 steals per contest.

Vanderbilt already has 24 wins this season, its most since the 2008-09 season (26-9).

Betts is following up her All-American season last year with another all-around dominant season for a Bruins team that is ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25. Her offensive numbers with 16.4 points and 3.1 assists per game don't measure up to some of the top contenders, but her defensive dominance is second to none.

Yahoo Sports' Sabreena Merchant noted as of Feb. 12 that opponents were shooting 13 points worse at the rim when Betts was in the game.

The Naismith field is as deep as it has ever been, with the final two weeks of the regular season and conference tournaments poised to be instrumental in determining the winner of the nation's most prestigious individual honor.