Breanna Stewart (UConn) and Cheryl Miller (USC) hold the record for most awards won (3). JuJu Watkins turned heads all season long, and now she has the hardware to prove it: the 2025 Naismith Women's College Player of the Year Award.

The Naismith College Player of the Year award, named after Dr. James Naismith, recognizes the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players annually. Established in 1969 fo

The 2024-25 Naismith Awards ceremony took place on Wednesday afternoon and it was a heavily West Coast affair. All three winners came from the two dominant Los Angeles schools this season, USC and UCLA,

One thing that remains undecided is the winner of the Naismith National Player of the Year and the Wooden Award. Many believe it comes down to two stars who have led their teams to the Final Four: Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg and Auburn Tigers star Johni Broome.

Close is just the second UCLA coach to win the Naismith College Coach of the Year award since it was introduced in 1987. Jim Harrick previously won it for the men's team during the 1994-95 season when the Bruins went on to win a national title.

The Naismith Player of the Year is awarded annually to the most outstanding college basketball player of the season.

USC sophomore guard JuJu Watkins was named the winner of the 2025 Naismith Women's College Basketball Player of the Year Award on Wednesday. Watkins beat out a stacked group of finalists in UConn guard Paige Bueckers, UCLA center Lauren Betts and Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo to take the honors.

Paige Bueckers and UConn took down the Watkins-less Trojans 78-64 on Monday. Watkins was named the Player of the Year over Bueckers, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, and cross-town rival Lauren Betts of UCLA.