STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford sophomore Kennedy Umeh is one of 20 players on the watch list for the 2026 Lisa Leslie Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Friday. The annual award in its ninth year recognizes the top center in women's college basketball.
The selection committee is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By late January, the watch list of 20 players will be narrowed to 10. In late February, five finalists will be presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.
Umeh appeared in 21 games as a freshman last season, averaging 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. She collected her first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in just 11 minutes against Morgan State on Nov. 22, becoming just the seventh power conference player with a double-double in 11 minutes or less since 2002-03.
A four-star talent, Umeh was rated as the 44th best player in the country in the Class of 2024 according to ESPN HoopGurlz. She helped the United States to a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary along with Stanford teammate Nunu Agara, averaging 6.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 12.9 minutes over seven games.
Stanford has had a pair of Naismith Starting 5 winners previously. In 2024, Kiki Iriafen won the Katrina McClain Award and Cameron Brink won the Lisa Leslie Award (center). Yesterday, Agara was named to the watch list for the Katrina McClain Award, which recognizes the nation’s top power forward.