STANFORD, Calif. – Lara Somfai and Hailee Swain have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025-26 Tamika Catchings Award by the board of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
The USBWA has named a national freshman player of the year since the 1991-92 season. In the 2020-21 season the award was named for Tamika Catchings, the legendary Tennessee star who was a three-time USBWA All-American and the association's national freshman player of the year in the 1997-98 season.
Stanford is the only school with multiple players on this year’s 20-person preseason list.
Somfai and Swain both started Monday’s win against UNC Greensboro, the first time the Cardinal started two freshmen in a season opener since November 17, 2000 at Saint Mary’s (Nicole Powell, Susan King). Somfai led Stanford with a team-high 15 points and eight rebounds, while Swain was +44 in her 29 minutes, scoring 12 and handing out four assists.
Both five-star talents, Swain was rated as the No. 8 player in the country in the Class of 2025 according to ESPN HoopGurlz and Somfai was ranked 12th. Among numerous prep honors, the pair were McDonald’s All-Americans, Jordan Brand Classic All-Americans and appeared at the Nike Hoop Summit – Swain for USA Basketball and Somfai on the World Roster.