(BIG TEN) – USC senior guard JuJu Watkins was named the 2026-27 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, as chosen by the league’s 18 head coaches and a select media panel, the conference announced Thursday.
It is the second time Watkins has been tabbed as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year after receiving the recognition prior to the 2024-25 campaign, she went on to be honored as that season’s Big Ten Player of the Year. Watkins sat out the 2025-26 season due to injury.
Watkins and Michigan’s Olivia Olson were unanimous choices by the coaches for their preseason All-Big Ten Team. They were joined by Illinois’ Berry Wallace, Iowa’s Ava Heiden, Maryland’s Oluchi Okananwa, Michigan’s Syla Swords, Nebraska’s Britt Prince, Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge, USC’s Jazzy Davidson and Washington’s Sayvia Sellers.
All 10 honorees earned a spot on the media’s preseason team with Olson and Cambridge receiving unanimous distinction.
Nine of the 10 players recognized were all-conference selections a season ago, including eight who garnered first team laurels in Wallace, Heiden, Okananwa, Olson, Swords, Cambridge, Davidson and Sellers. Among the returners, Davidson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the coaches and media.
The Big Ten is coming off a remarkable season that saw UCLA win its first-ever NCAA Championship after taking down South Carolina, 79-51. The Bruins lifted the Big Ten’s first national championship trophy since 1999 and was one of a record-tying 12 programs selected to participate in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Preseason practices are underway for Big Ten member institutions. All 18 Big Ten head coaches and selected student-athletes from each school are preparing to make their way to Rosemont, Ill., for the 2026 Big Ten Basketball Media Days Presented by TIAA on Oct. 7 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
The 2026-27 campaign tips off Nov. 2, while the 2027 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament is headed to Las Vegas for the first time. The tournament will be held at T-Mobile Arena March 3-7.
The 2026-27 Preseason All-Big Ten Teams are below.
2026-27 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Berry Wallace, Jr., F, Illinois
Ava Heiden, Jr., C, Iowa
Oluchi Okananwa, Sr., G, Maryland
OLIVIA OLSON, JR., G, MICHIGAN
Syla Swords, Jr., G, Michigan
Britt Prince, Jr., G, Nebraska
Jaloni Cambridge, Jr., G, Ohio State
Jazzy Davidson, So., G, USC
JUJU WATKINS, SR., G, USC
Sayvia Sellers, Sr., G, Washington
2026-27 Coaches Preseason Player of the Year
JuJu Watkins, Sr., G, USC
2026-27 Media Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Berry Wallace, Jr., F, Illinois
Ava Heiden, Jr., C, Iowa
Oluchi Okananwa, Sr., G, Maryland
OLIVIA OLSON, JR., G, MICHIGAN
Syla Swords, Jr., G, Michigan
Britt Prince, Jr., G, Nebraska
JALONI CAMBRIDGE, JR., G, OHIO STATE
Jazzy Davidson, So., G, USC
JuJu Watkins, Sr., G, USC
Sayvia Sellers, Sr., G, Washington
2026-27 Media Preseason Player of the Year
JuJu Watkins, Sr., G, USC
Unanimous selections listed in ALL CAPS
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