The Big 12 Conference announced its weekly award winners for women’s basketball on January 26, recognizing outstanding performances from several players. Iowa State’s Jada Williams earned Player of the Week honors, while Kansas freshman Jaliya Davis was named Freshman of the Week. The pair were also named to the Big 12 Starting Five, alongside BYU’s Delaney Gibb, Texas Tech’s Snudda Collins, and West Virginia’s Sydney Woodley.
Dominant Performances Drive Weekly Honors
Jada Williams, a junior guard from Kansas City, led the Big 12 in scoring with 31.5 points per game and assists with 7.5 per game during the week. She shot 69.7% from the field. Williams’ performance against Cincinnati was particularly notable, as she scored a career-high 44 points – setting both an Iowa State single-game Big 12 scoring record and a Cyclone Hilton Coliseum single-game scoring record. Her eight assists in that game accounted for 62 of Iowa State’s total points, the most points scored or assisted on by a single player in NCAA Division I women’s basketball this season. She followed this with 19 points and seven assists against Arizona.
Jaliya Davis, a freshman forward from Overland Park, Kansas, continued her impressive start to the season, scoring over 20 points in both of Kansas’ games. She averaged 23.5 points and a career-high eight rebounds across wins against Arizona and K-State. Davis shot 65.4% from the field and 72.2% from the free throw line. Her consistent performance has earned her the Freshman of the Week title four consecutive times, making her only the fifth player in league history to achieve this feat.
Beyond Williams and Davis, other players also had strong weeks. Delaney Gibb led BYU to its first ranked win of the season, scoring 18 points against then-No. 19 Texas Tech and a season-high 28 points against No. 22 West Virginia. Snudda Collins of Texas Tech recorded career highs in points (28), field goals (9), and three-pointers (6) in a dominant road win over Utah. Sydney Woodley of West Virginia also had a career performance, scoring 23 points against BYU while shooting 85.7% from the floor.
Looking Ahead
The Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament is scheduled to return to Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center from March 4-8/9. All 16 Big 12 teams will compete for the conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It is possible that the strong performances seen this week will continue to shape the tournament bracket and the overall competition for the championship title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was named Big 12 Player of the Week?
Jada Williams, a junior guard from Iowa State, was named Big 12 Player of the Week for the week of January 26.
Who was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week?
Jaliya Davis, a freshman forward from Kansas, was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week for the week of January 26.
Where will the 2026 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament be held?
The 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament will be held at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center from March 4-8/9.
What impact do these weekly awards have on the overall conference standings and tournament seeding?
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