10/29/2026 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga women's basketball junior Lauren Whittaker has been named to the 2027 Katrina McClain Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) on Thursday.
Whittaker is one of 20 players nationally selected to the preseason watch list for the award, which recognizes the top power forward in NCAA Division I women's basketball.
The Katrina McClain Award, now in its 10th year, is named after the two-time All-American, 1987 National Player of the Year and 2012 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
Whittaker enters her junior campaign following a strong start to her Gonzaga career. She made an immediate impact during her freshman season, scoring 641 points while shooting 55.3 percent from the field. Her 641 points set a Gonzaga freshman scoring record.
Fans can participate in voting for the Katrina McClain Award beginning Friday, Oct. 30. The initial watch list of 20 candidates will be narrowed to 10 players in February before five finalists are selected in March.
The five finalists will then be presented to Katrina McClain and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, which includes college basketball personnel, media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. The winner will be announced on a date to be determined, along with the other members of the Women's Starting Five.
Players can be added to or removed from the watch list throughout the 2026-27 season.
For more information on the Katrina McClain Award and to participate in fan voting, visit HoophallAwards.com.
2027 Katrina McClain Award Preseason Watch List
The following 20 players were named to the 2027 Katrina McClain Award Preseason Watch List:
|
Player |
School |
|---|---|
|
Nunu Agara |
Maryland |
|
Meghan Andersen |
Fairfield |
|
Carys Baker |
Louisville |
|
Jaliya Davis |
Kansas |
|
Skylar Forbes |
West Virginia |
|
Toby Fournier |
Duke |
|
Madison Francis |
Mississippi State |
|
Sophie Glancey |
Santa Clara |
|
Fatmata Janneh |
Tennessee |
|
ZaKiyah Johnson |
LSU |
|
Chloe Kitts |
South Carolina |
|
Grace Oliver |
Boston College |
|
Me'Arah O'Neal |
Kentucky |
|
Cearah Parchment |
Illinois |
|
Khamil Pierre |
NC State |
|
Sa'Myah Smith |
Oklahoma |
|
Lara Somfai |
TCU |
|
Sarah Strong |
UConn |
|
Gonzaga |
|
|
McKenna Woliczko |
Iowa |
