With some conference regular seasons coming to an end this weekend, postseason honors will start to be handed out as early as next week. Before that, we wanted a chance to amend our preseason predictions on the player of the year races in every conference. Why wait and let the conferences have all the fun?
So much has changed since October: Some players had impacts that weren't anticipated, plenty of transfers worked out better than expected, and injuries changed the POY favorites and teams' fortunes in the standings. It has led to incredibly tight competitions such as in the SEC with multiple players still in the running, as well as one-on-one battles in the Big Ten with a showdown between JuJu Watkins and Lauren Betts.
Before the formal announcements begin next week, here is one last look at what we think could -- and should -- happen in the voting for player of the year in each conference.
All statistics are through Feb. 26 games.
Jump to a conference:
A-10 | AAC | ACC | America East | ASUN | Big 12 | Big East | Big Sky | Big South | Big Ten | Big West | C-USA | CAA | Horizon League | Ivy League | MAAC | MAC | MEAC | Mountain West | MVC | NEC | OVC | Patriot League | SEC | Southern | Southland | Summit League | Sun Belt | SWAC | WAC | WCC
America East Conference
Kayla Cooper, 6-0, G, UAlbany
After making second-team all-conference as a sophomore and then two first teams in the following seasons, Cooper should finally get the America East's top award in her graduate year. She ranks top five in the conference in scoring (17.6), rebounding (7.0), assists (3.1) and field goal percentage (55.8%) for an Albany team in position to win its second regular-season title in three years.
Top competition: Anna Olson, 6-1, F, Vermont: 13.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 58.1 FG%
American Athletic Conference
Jordyn Jenkins, 6-0, F, UTSA
After a solid sophomore season at USC (14.8 PPG), Jenkins transferred to UTSA and became a star, winning Conference USA player of the year in 2023. This season, on the AAC's best team, she's the leading scorer at 18.5 points, to go along with 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. Jenkins looks primed to take home another trophy.
Top competition: Tommisha Lampkin, 6-2, F, North Texas: 16.9 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 57.8 FG%
ACC
Hannah Hidalgo, 5-6, G, Notre Dame
Just a sophomore, Hidalgo is already an all-time Notre Dame great. In December, she became the fastest player in program history to hit the 1,000-point plateau. A leading candidate for national player of the year and arguably the best two-way player in the country, Hidaglo is second in the country in scoring (24.7) and third in steals (3.8).
Top competition: Ta'Niya Latson, 5-8, G, Florida State: 26.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.6 APG, 39.0 3PT%
ASUN Conference
Emani Jefferson, 5-6, G, Florida Gulf Coast
After sweeping every major honor in the ASUN a year ago, Jefferson should add a second player of the year award. Her scoring numbers did dip (16.6 to 14.2), but her field goal percentage (56.4%) and 3-point percentage (33.3%) are career highs for an Eagles team that has lost only one conference game since her arrival from Memphis two years ago.
Top competition: Edyn Battle, 6-1, F, Jacksonville: 20.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 40.9 FG%
Atlantic 10 Conference
Maggie Doogan, 6-2, F, Richmond
The best player on the A-10's best team, Doogan leads the Spiders in scoring (17.2), rebounding (7.0), assists (3.7), blocks (1.1) and field goal percentage (55.7%). With Doogan and fellow junior Rachel Ullstrom leading the way, the Spiders have won consecutive A-10 regular-season crowns after not winning a conference title since 1990.
Top competition: Laura Ziegler, 6-2, F, Saint Joseph's: 18.4 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 4.4 APG, 54.1 FG%
Big East Conference
Paige Bueckers, 5-11, G, UConn
To illustrate just how good Bueckers has been statistically: This is the worst full season in her career, yet she ranks as the fourth-most efficient player in the country, according to HerHoopStats.com, and is second in win shares. Bueckers leads the Huskies and is fifth in the conference at 18.7 points and tops the Big East in assists with 4.8. That makes her a likely first-team All-American and the best player in the conference -- if she can hold off the competition from her young teammate.
Top competition: Sarah Strong, 6-2, F, UConn: 15.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 3.7 RPG, 57.4 FG%
Big Sky Conference
Sophie Glancey, 6-2, F, Northern Arizona
NAU has the most prolific offense in the Big Sky, largely because Glancey is the conference's top scorer (18.1). She also leads in field goal percentage (50.7%) and blocks (1.8). The Lumberjacks previous 20-win season before Glancey's arrival was 2006. They've now hit the 20-win plateau in each of her three seasons in Flagstaff.
Top competition: Esmeralda Morales, 5-5, Montana State: 15.1 PPG, 3.7 APG, 1.9 SPG, 88.6 FT%
Big South Conference
Ashley Hawkins, 5-6, G, Gardner-Webb
After winning the Big South's newcomer of the year in 2024, Hawkins lifted her game this season. She is averaging two more points per game (18.5) than the league's next best scorer and tops the Big South in assists (4.7) and minutes (35.7).
Top competition: Catherine Alben, 5-7, G, Charleston Southern: 16.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.4 SPG
Big 12 Conference
Sedona Prince, 6-7, C, TCU
Not coincidentally, the healthiest season of Prince's career has been her best, and her impact on both ends of the court should give her the edge in a closely contested player-of-the-year race. Prince is fourth in the nation with a career-high 3.2 blocks per game, while averaging 17.9 points and 9.1 rebounds. Most importantly, Prince's pairing with Hailey Van Lith has made this the best season in Horned Frogs' history.
Top competition: JJ Quinerly, 5-8, G, West Virginia: 19.4 PPG, 3.1 APG, 3.2 SPG
Big Ten Conference
JuJu Watkins, 6-2, G, USC
This race closely aligns with the national award with both Watkins and UCLA's Lauren Betts at the top of the lists -- and the Big Ten winner could be decided after Saturday's rematch between the Trojans and the Bruins. It's Watkins who heads into that matchup as the leader after her 38-point, 8-block performance in the first meeting. She also leads the Big Ten and is third in the country in scoring at 24.2 points per game and ranks in the top five in steals (2.1) and blocks (2.0).
Top competition: Lauren Betts, 6-7, C, UCLA: 19.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.9 BPG, 61.8 FG%
Big West Conference
Sumayah Sugapong, 5-9, G, UC San Diego
In their first year of postseason eligibility after their transition to Division I, the Tritons are a top-four team in the Big West and Sugapong is the chief reason why. After winning the conference's newcomer of the year as a freshman last season, Sugapong leads the Big West in assists (3.5) and steals (2.5), while scoring 14.1 points, fifth in the Big West.
Top competition: Savannah Tucker, 5-9, G, Long Beach State: 17.4 PPG, 2.5 APG, 1.3 SPG
Coastal Athletic Association
Jordyn Dorsey, 5-9, G, NC A&T
NC A&T hasn't won a regular-season championship since it was in the MEAC in 2019, but behind Dorsey, the Aggies are the front-runner in the CAA heading to the final week of the regular season. Improving on her first-team all-CAA season in 2023-24, Dorsey leads the Aggies in scoring (15.2), assists (3.8) and steals (2.0).
Top competition: Taryn Barbot, 5-10, G, Charleston: 14.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.4 SPG
Conference USA
Anastasiia Boldyreva, 6-6, C, Middle Tennessee
Once a project, Boldyreva's steady improvement has turned her into the most impactful player in CUSA. Last year's conference defensive player of the year improved and leads the country in blocked shots per game (3.5). Boldyreva is fourth in the league in scoring (15.8) and second in rebounding (10.2), both career highs.
Top competition: Prencis Harden, 5-11, F, Kennesaw State: 15.8 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 1.2 SPG
Horizon League
Mickayla Perdue, 5-7, G, Cleveland State
Only 19 players in Division I are averaging more than 20 points -- and one of them is Perdue (20.1). She also finished in the top five in the conference in assists, field goal percentage (43.1 %) free throw percentage (84.7%) and 3-pointers made per game (2.1). The Vikings needed every bit of that production after starting point guard and last season's Horizon Player of the Year, Colbi Maples, went down because of a knee injury three games into the season.
Top competition: Lauren Ross, 5-10, G, Purdue Fort Wayne: 16.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 46.0 3PT%
Ivy League
Harmoni Turner, 5-10, G, Harvard
After playing in the shadow of Ivy Leaguers Kaitlyn Chen at Princeton and Abbey Hsu at Columbia, this has been Turner's season for the spotlight. Never averaging fewer than 15.9 points in her four years, Turner is at a career-high 21.3, a number that also leads the Ivy. So do her 3.0 steals per game. Turner would be the first Harvard player to win the Ivy League Player of the Year in 20 years.
Top competition: Kitty Henderson, 5-10, G, Columbia: 13.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.8 APG, 2.4 SPG
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Meghan Andersen, 6-1, F, Fairfield
When Fairfield's top player, Janelle Brown, went down because of a knee injury eight games into the season, Anderson, last year's MAAC newcomer of the year, moved to the forefront. Behind her 14.2 points per game, the Stags have continued to dominate the conference with 40 straight wins against MAAC opponents.
Top competition: Ny'Ceara Pryor, 5-3, G, Sacred Heart: 19.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.1 APG, 2.4 SPG
Mid-American Conference
Ally Becki, 5-8, G, Ball State
A starter from the day she arrived on campus, Becki will leave Muncie, Indiana, as one of the best players in Ball State history. She has a chance to set the program's career assists mark and is averaging career highs of 15.1 points, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals. She has the Cardinals in position to win their first conference title since 2003.
Top competition: Chellia Watson, 5-8, G, Buffalo: 20.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.5 APG
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Diamond Johnson, 5-5, G, Norfolk State
After beginning her career with a season at Rutgers and two at NC State, Johnson has found a home with the Spartans and has been a dominant force in the MEAC. Her 19.0 points and 3.3 steals per game lead the conference and she's second in assists at 4.2. With Johnson at point guard, Norfolk State has lost only one conference game in two years.
Top competition: Laila Lawrence, 6-1, F, Coppin State: 16.6 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.5 SPG
Missouri Valley Conference
Katie Dinnebier, 5-8, G, Drake
After winning the award a year ago, Dinnebier has been even better as a senior. Her scoring has jumped three points to 21.2 per game and she leads the MVC in assists (7.4) by nearly two per game and averages 3.1 3-pointers, a number that ranks seventh in the country.
Top competition: Katelyn Young, 6-1, F, Murray State: 21.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 54.9 FG%
Mountain West Conference
Allyson Fertig, 6-4, C, Wyoming
A four-year starter and double-figure scorer throughout her four-year run in Laramie, Fertig has been the best player in the MWC to not win player of the year. That should change this season. Her 19.4 PPG, 10.4 RPG and 58.7 field goal percentage all lead the conference.
Top competition: Emma Ronsiek, 6-2, F, Colorado State: 18.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 35.6 3PT%
Northeast Conference
Teneisia Brown, 6-2, F, Fairleigh Dickinson
The NEC's most dominant interior player and efficient shooter (55.1 field goal percentage), Brown averaged a double-double in league games (13.8 points, 10.3 rebounds), helping the Knights clinch their third NEC regular title in four years.
Top competition: Sharn Hayward, 5-6, G, Stonehill: 16.3 PPG, 2.9 APG, 39.1 3PT%
Ohio Valley Conference
Macy McGlone, 6-3, F, Eastern Illinois
The Panthers are enjoying their most successful three-year run in more than a decade and that's largely because of McGlone, who should win her second straight OVC top player honor. Her 17.7 points per game in league play is second best in the league, but she leads with a dominating 12.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 15 double-doubles.
Top competition: Raegan McCowan, 5-11, G, Western Illinois: 21.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 46.2 FG%
Patriot League
Ashley Sofilkanich, 6-3, F, Bucknell
After being named third-team all-Patriot League and to the all-defensive and rookie teams in 2024, Sofilkanich is now the most dominant player in the league. Her 19.9 points and 2.2 blocks lead the Patriot League and her 8.5 rebounds ranks third.
Top competition: Maddie Albrecht, 6-0, G, Lehigh: 15.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 54.0 FG%
SEC
Aneesah Morrow, 6-1, F, LSU
Just as the SEC is deep with quality teams at the top of the rankings, it's also deep with player-of-the-year contenders. The nod goes to Morrow -- but barely -- over the likes of Madison Booker, Georgia Amoore and Mikayla Blakes. Morrow's two-way play gives her the edge. Her 17.9 points is good. Her nation-leading 14.2 rebounds is astonishing. And she's fourth in the conference at 2.5 steals.
Top competition: Amoore, 5-6, G, Kentucky: 18.9 PPG, 6.0 APG, 32.6 3PT%, 36.3 MPG
Southern Conference
Evangelia Paulk, 6-0, F, Wofford
Last week, Paul became the first player in the NCAA since 2023 to record a triple-double that included steals. Her 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals were the second triple-double in Terriers history. She's fifth in the country in steals (3.5) and is third in the SoCon at 13.0 points.
Top competition: Caia Elisaldez, 5-5, G, Chattanooga: 13.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 4.2 APG
Southland Conference
Alexius Horne, 5-9, F, SE Louisiana
The Southland does not have a truly dominant player this season, but it does have a dominant team. The Lady Lions have already clinched their first outright regular-season title and Horne has been the catalyst. Her 14.5 points per game and 42.7% shooting from 3-point range are each third best in the conference.
Top competition: Akasha Davis, 6-2, F, Lamar: 12.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 58.1 FG%
Summit League
Grace Larkins, 5-9, G, South Dakota
The Coyotes aren't the threat to in-state rival and perennial Summit League winner South Dakota State the way they used to be, but Larkins' production is too much to ignore. She leads the conference in scoring (23.9), rebounding (9.3) and assists (5.6), and is on pace to become the first women's Division I player in 25 years to lead a league in all three categories. She has a 45-point and a 47-point game this season, and her scoring average trails only Latson and Hidalgo.
Top competition: Brooklyn Meyer, 6-2, F, South Dakota State: 17.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 64.3 FG%
Sun Belt Conference
Peyton McDaniel, 5-6, G, James Madison
The Dukes are one game from an unbeaten Sun Belt season, and McDaniel and her versatility are the centerpiece. She leads JMU in scoring (16.2), rebounding (8.5), steals (1.8), 3-pointers and free throw percentage (44.3 3PT%).
Top competition: Aislynn Hayes, 5-8, G, Marshall: 17.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.9 APG
Southwestern Athletic Conference
Destiny Brown, 6-1, G, Alcorn State
Brown's consistency has anchored Alcorn State for three seasons. For the second consecutive season, Brown will finish in the SWAC's top 10 in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage.
Top competition: Kalia Walker, 5-5, G, Alabama A&M: 15.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 36.4 3PT%
Western Athletic Conference
Trinity San Antonio, 5-10, G, Grand Canyon
It's hard to find a WAC statistic that doesn't include San Antonio's name near the top. A Puerto Rico national team member this summer, San Antonio ranks in the top five in scoring, assists, steals, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio, and has led the Lopes to their first WAC championship.
Top competition: Avery Brittingham, 6-1, F, UT Arlington: 13.0 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 4.3 APG
West Coast Conference
Yvonne Ejim, 6-1, F, Gonzaga
The Zags are having their worst season since 2015-16, but Ejim's fifth year in the program has been a big one. After winning the WCC Player of the Year last season and playing in the Olympics for Canada, Ejim became Gonzaga's all-time leading scorer and is averaging 21.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, both of which are career bests.
Top competition: Maisie Burnham, 6-0, G, Portland: 17.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 50.0 FG%