The conference phase is about to begin, and some players have already made their cases strong in the National Player of the Year race. 

Teams like the UConn Huskies have already won three matches in the Big East conference. Talking about the Big West conference, the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos have won their first couple of games. Although it’s still the early stages, let’s look at the players who are featured in the NPOY shortlist. 

Sarah Strong - UConn Huskies 

UConn’s forward has been one of the most prominent reasons why they have been destroying their opposition. In 12 games played so far, Strong might be the best player in the country. She has already shown immense potential, scoring 18.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 58.9 FG%, and 37 3PT%. Strong’s best performance came against the Ohio State Buckeyes, scoring 29 points and converting 2 out of 4 three-pointers. 

Audi Crooks - Iowa State Cyclones 

The 21-year-old center has been absolutely flawless in Iowa State’s 13-0 record this season. She has played 12 games and has scored 28.9 points per game. Although her RPG is not that great with just 5.9, Crooks’ field goal percentage has been one of the best, with 71.6%. Her best game came in a 106-95 win against the Indiana Hoosiers, where she scored 47 points, with 19 field goals and 4 rebounds. 

Rori Harmon - Texas Longhorns 

The graduate guard is the engine behind Texas’ perfect 14-0 start this season. As the team's primary playmaker, Harmon has been sensational, averaging 9.4 PPG, 7.8 APG, 3.7 RPG, and a career-high 52.9 FG%. Her best performance this year came against the No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks, where she broke the school’s 40-year-old career assist record and hit a clutch game-winning jumper with one second left to seal a 66-64 victory.

Azzi Fudd - UConn Huskies 

Another Huskies player makes it to the list, whose average points per game are 18.5. After winning the 2025 National Championship, Fudd has taken her game to another level, averaging 2.9 RPG and 3.0 APG. The 23-year-old played an important part in keeping the Huskies’ unbeaten streak intact. In a statement win over the Iowa Hawkeyes last week, she poured in 27 points, including 21 in the second half.

Lauren Betts - UCLA Bruins 

The 6-foot-7 senior center is the defensive pillar for the Bruins in their strong 11-1 start to the season. She has played 11 games, she has averaged 15.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 2.2 BPG while shooting a highly efficient 58.7 FG%. Betts' standout performance came in a conference victory against the Oregon Ducks a couple of weeks ago, where she dominated with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks.

Written by

Kalp Thaker

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi