University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Photo by: Caren Nicdao
Kneepkens Named to Shooting Guard of the Year Mid-Season Top 10 List
February 03, 2026 | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. โ Graduate guard Gianna Kneepkens has been named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award Mid-Season Top 10, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Tuesday.
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Kneepkens has proven herself to be a lethal shooter for the Bruins, scoring 13.5 points per game on .527/.471/.958 shooting splits. She's one of three players in Division I women's basketball in the 50/40/90 club scoring more than 10 points per game, and she is averaging the fewest turnovers per game from that group (1.1 TO/G).
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The shooting guard is one of three active players with 300-career 3-pointers made, and she's done it in one fewer season than the two ahead of her.
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2026 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Candidates
Taliah Scott โ Baylor
Delaney Gibb โ BYU
Tajianna Roberts โ Louisville
Flau'jae Johnson โ LSU
Syla Swords โ Michigan
Rachel Ullstrom โ Richmond
Ta'Niya Latson โ South Carolina
Gianna Kneepkens โ UCLA
Azzi Fudd โ UConn
Mikayla Blakes โ Vanderbilt
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Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting on Friday, February 6, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
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In mid-March, the Mid-Season Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to West's family, Meyers Drysdale, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
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The winners of the 2026 West and Meyers Drysdale Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
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For more information on the 2026 Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #WestAward, and #MeyersDrysdaleAward on X and Instagram.
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Kneepkens has proven herself to be a lethal shooter for the Bruins, scoring 13.5 points per game on .527/.471/.958 shooting splits. She's one of three players in Division I women's basketball in the 50/40/90 club scoring more than 10 points per game, and she is averaging the fewest turnovers per game from that group (1.1 TO/G).
ย
The shooting guard is one of three active players with 300-career 3-pointers made, and she's done it in one fewer season than the two ahead of her.
ย
2026 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Candidates
Taliah Scott โ Baylor
Delaney Gibb โ BYU
Tajianna Roberts โ Louisville
Flau'jae Johnson โ LSU
Syla Swords โ Michigan
Rachel Ullstrom โ Richmond
Ta'Niya Latson โ South Carolina
Gianna Kneepkens โ UCLA
Azzi Fudd โ UConn
Mikayla Blakes โ Vanderbilt
ย
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting on Friday, February 6, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
ย
In mid-March, the Mid-Season Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to West's family, Meyers Drysdale, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
ย
The winners of the 2026 West and Meyers Drysdale Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
ย
For more information on the 2026 Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #WestAward, and #MeyersDrysdaleAward on X and Instagram.
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Players Mentioned
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