Hoopla 40: 2025-26 Midseason Edition

Happy New Year’s Eve! To get back on schedule before 2026, let’s rank some players.

Preseason Hoopla 40

Last Hoopla: Where We Stand

The Hoopla 40 is a list of the 40 best players in Big Ten women’s basketball, according to me. These come out at the beginning, middle and end of each season, with each ranking meaning something a little different. With this being the midseason ranking, it is focused primarily on what we have seen from these players this season. This is not a ranking of projection, it is my ranking of these players in their most current forms.

Other things to note:

• With this being a midseason ranking, it also shows where each player was ranked in my preseason list. That is indicated by the italicized number next to the ranking, and “NEW” is shown for players that were not in the preseason rankings.

• Only players who have played at least eight games were considered for this ranking, around half of what teams have played thus far.

• This list is always hard, but this specific Hoopla 40 may have been the most difficult to rank yet from top to bottom. It was difficult to make an order that felt right to me, which means I’m sure there are disagreements. Let me know those either in the comments or on Bluesky!

Here is my Midseason Hoopla 40, with comments about each player listed below:

Just missed the cut: Tara Daye (Purdue); Angela Dugalić (UCLA); Callin Hake (Nebraska); Kiyomi McMiller (Penn State); Cearah Parchment (Illinois)

1.) Lauren Betts, UCLA — 15.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.2 APG

The Preseason No. 1 just barely holds onto her spot here. Betts is still a superstar talent, she’s simply been able to hold less of the offensive responsibility on this rendition of UCLA. Still, she leads the Bruins in points and remains a dominant two-way force in the paint.

2.) Olivia Olson, Michigan — 18.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.1 APG

Olson continues to be Michigan’s most consistent performer on a team full of great ones. She has great energy on both sides of the floor, but its that consistency on this elite Wolverines unit that lands her here: Olson has scored 15+ points in every game but one, and that one was a 49-point blowout.

3.) Shay Ciezki, Indiana — 23.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.2 APG

Hard to argue that anyone has done more than her team on an individual level thus far than Ciezki. She’s putting up ridiculous scoring numbers and doing it on 55/47/93 efficiency.

4.) Jaloni Cambridge, Ohio State — 19.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.6 APG

Cambridge is making the strides that I’ve wanted to see everywhere but on her perimeter shooting. Her interior scoring has been such a jolt that it hasn’t mattered much yet as she continues to lead this Buckeyes unit as a true sophomore.

5.) Kiki Rice, UCLA — 15.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.9 APG

Kiki Rice is going to go down with one of the most consistent stat lines for a college player that I can remember. Her scoring is slightly up, as is her rebounding, but she is once again an extremely steady point guard presence for the Bruins who can get to the free throw line and find open shooters without committing turnovers.

6.) Oluchi Okananwa, Maryland — 16.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.2 APG

With the injuries the Terps have faced this season, the addition of Okananwa is the key reason they remain undefeated. She has been immense, both as a threatening scorer an a relentless defender.

7.) Britt Price, Nebraska — 18.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.5 APG

Prince feels like she has elevated her game to another level this season in a big way, I just need to see it against steeper competition to move her up this list further. She’s putting up crazy efficiency all over the floor as it stands, and has found her playmaking groove as well with 5+ assists in 7 of her last 8 games.

8.) Sayvia Sellers, Washington — 19.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.5 APG

While the Huskies backcourt gets settled in around her, Sellers has continued to blossom. She’s putting up the best scoring numbers of her career and shooting north of 43 percent from behind the arc.

9.) Jazzy Davidson, USC — 16.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.7 APG

The true freshman gets into the Top 10 with her impressive efforts to keep USC pumping. She’s averaging 1.9 steals and 2.7 blocks per game from the jump and continues to display one of the most remarkable ceilings I have seen since, well, her teammate who is out for the season.

10.) Syla Swords, Michigan — 14.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.5 APG

Statistically, Swords isn’t blowing us away this season yet. She has become even better defensively, but what keeps her in the Top 10 is her knack of finding a way when Michigan needs it. During the two instances this season where Michigan has entered “clutch” time, Swords is averaging 42.3 points per 40 minutes.

11.) Gabriela Jaquez, UCLA — 14.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.2 APG

Jaquez has always been a terrific complementary piece for UCLA, but this year she has expanded her game into something more. She’s blowing away her career high for scoring and has a new high in rebounds per game as well. Shooting 52.8% from three probably helps too.

12.) Ava Heiden, Iowa — 15.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.7 APG

The sophomore is turning into the phenom we started to see at the end of last season. Heiden has tripled her scoring and rebounding numbers from last year and is adding over a block per game with a shooting percentage well north of 60.

13.) Hannah Stuelke, Iowa — 13.5 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.5 APG

I just couldn't separate the duo, they’ve both been so impactful for Iowa so far. Stuelke’s scoring may be lessened with Heiden’s rise, but she’s making her impact felt across the box score, improving as a rebounder and facilitator.

14.) Katie Fiso, Oregon — 15.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 7.3 APG

Oregon is off to a strong start to this season thanks to the surprise rise of Fiso, who has blossomed into one of the country’s top playmakers. She’s also getting to the rim well while her three-point shooting continues to improve.

15.) Berry Wallace, Illinois — 17.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.6 APG

There was an opportunity on Illinois’ roster for someone to step up after all the veteran departures, and Wallace has done exactly that. She’s playing much more aggressively as a sophomore, taking less deep shots and scoring in loads at the basket.

16.) Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA — 14.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.2 APG

My favorite acquisition of the offseason has fit in brilliantly for the defending Big Ten tournament champs. Kneepkens has maintained her 50-40-90 efficiencies and has done excellent work at helping to space the floor for the Bruins.

17.) Yarden Garzon, Maryland — 12.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.9 APG

After a slow start, Garzon has rounded back into her Indiana form and has a three-point percentage back near 40. She’s scored 15+ in her last four contests and has the Terps absolutely humming after a near slip-up against Minnesota.

18.) Avery Howell, Washington — 13.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.4 APG

The USC transfer has fit in excellently with the Huskies. Howell’s stats don’t fly off the page, but she has maintained her efficient shooting and has dominated the glass, something especially beneficial for a team playing without a ton of forward help thus far.

19.) Kennedy Blair, Michigan State — 12.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 5.8 APG

One of the most exciting early surprises of this season. Blair has become Michigan State’s nucleus, dishing out at least four assists in every game but one while also leading the team in boards and adding the second-most points. New Julia Ayrault just dropped perhaps?

20.) Mila Holloway, Michigan — 12.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 5.2 APG

Holloway continues to be oh so important for this Michigan team, leading the way in assists and steals. She, like all of this Wolverines roster, is impressive on both ends of the floor and has really improved her interior scoring shooting 60% on twos, nearly a 20% improvement from last season.

21.) Gracie Merkle, Penn State — 19.7 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.5 APG

Merkle has easily been the best player on this Penn State team, doubling the next-highest player in win shares. She averages nearly 20 PPG in just under 26 minutes per contest, and is shooting 73.9% to get there while also adding more than a block a night.

22.) Grace Grocholski, Minnesota — 12.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.1 APG

Minnesota, by design, is without a high-volume scorer, but Grocholski’s growth continues to be clear every season. She’s shooting 53/50/100 this season, has an assist-to-turnover ratio north of 2 and is the Gophers’ best offensive weapon thus far.

23.) Charlisse Leger-Walker, UCLA — 9.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG

An extremely important glue piece to UCLA’s success so far. Leger-Walker leads the Bruins in assists and steals per game, and is doing so with an elite 3.11 AST/TO ratio.

24.) Grace VanSlooten, Michigan State — 14.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.7 APG

Unintentionally the third Grace in the last four spots, some Hoopla #NextGenStats for you. Regardless, VanSlooten continues to be an important paint presence for this rapid-fire Spartans unit, though I do want to see her take on more of the workload in Big Ten play.

25.) Kennedy Smith, USC — 10.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.7 APG

The defensive dominance is obvious when you watch Kennedy Smith play, and it feels like the next steps for her leap are nearly on the way. Her shooting has taken a hit, but her 2.9 stocks per game and improvements as a passer keep her extremely important for USC’s success.

26.) Lenée Beaumont, Indiana — 15.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.1 APG

Indiana cleared house this offseason, whether they wanted to or not, leaving very few returnees to pick up the pieces. Beaumont has done that and then some, starting this season out with her best run of play to date by a wide margin. She will be a huge factor in the Hoosiers’ chances at success.

27.) Mia Jacobs, Oregon — 14.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.6 APG

Fiso and Mia Jacobs really have taken this Oregon roster and kept it punching. Jacobs’ numbers are only a tad down from what they were on Fresno State, but she’s shooting much better on the interior while staying steady as a strong rebounder and perimeter shooter.

28.) Saylor Poffenbarger, Maryland — 11.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.8 APG

As with every Terp mentioned here, they’ve had to step up big time with the loss of Kaylene Smike, the continued absence of Bri McDaniel among other lengthy absences. Poffenbarger’s versatility at guard has been a huge X-factor in keeping play high, as has her 11% improvement from three-point range (29.9 → 41%).

29.) Chazadi “Chit-Chat” Wright, Iowa — 12.1 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 3.7 APG

She missed some games, but Iowa is a different team with Chit-Chat in the mix. She’s hitting nearly 48 percent of her threes and is passing the ball around while avoiding turnovers. Overall, Wright gives this Iowa guard room a whole lot more juice.

30.) Grace Sullivan, Northwestern — 23.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.2 APG

The Wildcats are deep in the mud right now, but Grace Sullivan is doing all she possibly can. She ranks Top 10 nationally in scoring and has tripled her next-highest teammate in win shares to this point. If Northwestern is going to make a turnaround, it might be through some monstrous performances by her.

31.) Kara Dunn, USC — 11.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.8 APG

While not as much of a scoring punch as I expected, Dunn has played her role well while USC continues to figure things out offensively. She’s hitting a career-high percentage of threes and has also upped her assist total slightly, though I think she could take on more of the weight off Davidson’s shoulders in Big Ten play.

32.) Te’Yala Delfosse, Michigan — 11.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.3 APG

One of my favorite players to watch this season. Delfosse has been such a difference maker off the bench for the Wolverines, not only as an efficient all-around scorer, but also as a lanky, disruptive defender. She’s averaging 1.6 stocks per game in 20 minutes a night, and it feels like she may only go up from here.

33.) Rashunda Jones, Michigan State — 11.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.1 APG

The Purdue transfer has immediately seen the inner-conference move pay dividends. Her current personal bests in shooting averages and assists only pale in comparison to the 2.6 steals per game she’s averaging under Robyn Fralick’s tutelage.

34.) Gretchen Dolan, Illinois — 14.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.2 APG

While Wallace has led the way in scoring, Dolan has made quite an impact after having her year cut short in 24-25. She’s been more willing to find her shot and has added more of an all-around arsenal to her game, all of which has been needed for this youthful Illini squad.

35.) Addi Mack, Maryland — 12.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.8 APG

Maryland needed to find some new ways to score, and they found her in Mack. The true freshman has entered the college game willing to fire, and the shots have been falling, especially in the paint. She has started Maryland’s last six games and should only keep developing as she gets more opportunities.

36.) Tori McKinney, Minnesota — 13.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.4 APG

Last year’s surprise freshman phenom is continuing to do her thing once again for Minnesota. Her scoring has gone up, but it’s her 2.2 steals per game that really catches my eye. The Gophers love to suffocate their opponents, and McKinney has been a huge help in achieving that.

37.) Nene Ndiaye, Rutgers — 16.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.7 APG

Rutgers is just barely averaging 60 PPG this season. It’s been rough, but it makes Ndiaye’s offensive contributions — also on impressive 50-40-77.5 efficiency — all the more impressive.

38.) Kennedy Cambridge, Ohio State — 7.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.6 APG

The older Cambridge sister is absolutely pulling her weight for this Buckeyes roster thus far. Her playmaking and 3.36 AST/TO ratio are huge, but so are her 4.4 steals per game, the second-most in all of college basketball.

39.) Amiah Hargrove, Nebraska — 12.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 0.9 APG

The sophomore has been a revelation off the bench early on for the Cornhuskers, helping to offload the weight for Prince. She’s been dominant on the interior, pulling in two offensive rebounds per game and hitting 61.8% of her shots in side the arc.

40.) Destiny Howell, Wisconsin — 12.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.0 APG

The Badgers have pulled off some strong results to start Robin Pingeton’s head coaching stint, and Howell has been at the center of that success. She leads the team in scoring, is hitting 40 percent of her deep shots and has been the reliable veteran scoring option the team was hoping for when she transferred in.

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