"Perhaps this list of potential players of the year for 2025-26 will bring some calm to the chaos, a chance to look at who should be the best performers in each conference. Some seem easy to call -- there don't appear to be any true challengers to UConn's Sarah Strong in the Big East or Richmond's Maggie Doogan in the Atlantic 10 -- but other races like the SEC and Big 12 should be tight until the final day of the campaign."
"After winning America East player of the year as a sophomore in 2023 and setting a conference record with 22 double-doubles as junior, Smith missed last season with a knee injury. Her 16.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 0.7 blocks per game all led the Black Bears in 2023-24. Coach Jose Fernandez brought in four transfers to an already deep Bulls roster, and Battle is the best of the bunch."
Fourteen former women's college basketball players of the year returned to teams before the prior season; that number fell to eight for 2025-26 as transfers and NIL increased roster turnover. Top candidates for 2025-26 players of the year include clear favorites in some conferences and close contests in others. UConn's Sarah Strong projects as the frontrunner in the Big East while Richmond's Maggie Doogan leads the Atlantic 10. SEC and Big 12 player of the year races are expected to be tightly contested. Conference notes mention injured returnees and high-impact transfers shaping lineups.
Read at ESPN.com
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