NCAA Women's Basketball 2025: Conference Player of the Year Race Heats Up

As the regular seasons of various women's basketball conferences draw to a close, the race for the Player of the Year (POY) awards is heating up. Here's a breakdown of the top contenders in each conference, with insights into their performances and statistics through February 26th games.

America East Conference

Kayla Cooper, a 6-0 guard from UAlbany, is poised to win the top award in her graduate year. Cooper ranks top five in the conference in scoring (17.6), rebounding (7.0), assists (3.1), and field goal percentage (55.8%).

American Athletic Conference

Jordyn Jenkins, a 6-0 forward from UTSA, has become a star since transferring from USC. She leads the AAC in scoring at 18.5 points per game and is a strong candidate for the POY award.

ACC

Hannah Hidalgo, a 5-6 guard from Notre Dame, is a leading candidate for national player of the year. She is second in the country in scoring (24.7) and third in steals (3.8).

ASUN Conference

Emani Jefferson, a 5-6 guard from Florida Gulf Coast, aims to win her second POY award. Despite a slight dip in scoring, her shooting percentages are at career highs.

Atlantic 10 Conference

Maggie Doogan, a 6-2 forward from Richmond, leads her team in multiple categories and has helped the Spiders win consecutive A-10 regular-season titles.

Big East Conference

Paige Bueckers, a 5-11 guard from UConn, remains a dominant force in the Big East despite injuries. She ranks as the fourth-most efficient player in the country.

Big Ten Conference

JuJu Watkins, a 6-2 guard from USC, is a top contender for both the Big Ten and national POY awards. Her outstanding performances have kept her in the spotlight.

SEC

Aneesah Morrow, a 6-1 forward from LSU, is leading the SEC with her two-way play. She is second in the nation with 14.2 rebounds per game.

Explore more about the standout players and their contributions to their teams as we approach the postseason awards announcements. The competition is fierce, and every game counts in the race for the Player of the Year honors.