10/29/2026 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – Gonzaga women's basketball junior Lauren Whittaker has been named to the 2026-27 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Thursday.
Whittaker is one of 50 players nationally selected to the preseason watch list for the prestigious award, which recognizes the top player in NCAA Division I women's basketball.
The recognition adds to Whittaker's growing list of preseason accolades, which also includes a selection to the Becky Hammon Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.
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.
The Bulldogs' standout forward is the lone representative from the Pac-12 Conference on the 50-player preseason watch list.
The Naismith Trophy, presented annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, is one of the most prestigious individual honors in college basketball, recognizing the nation's top women's basketball player.
For more information on the Naismith Trophy and the 2026-27 watch list, visit NaismithTrophy.com.
