Spokane, WASH. — Gonzaga freshman forward Lauren Whittaker was named the West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. The league announced its major awards and all-conference teams on Tuesday.
It’s the fourth-straight season Gonzaga has produced the WCC Player of the Year and the second consecutive year a Zag has been named Freshman of the Year.
Jaiden Haile was also named the WCC Sixth Woman of the Year and named to the All-WCC Freshman Team.
Whittaker, a national freshman of the year candidate, is just the second freshman in WCC women’s basketball history to be voted the conference player of the year.
She also becomes the first player in Gonzaga program history to sweep the two awards in the same season. Whittaker earned a conference-record 13 freshman of the week honors during the regular season. She was also recognized as the player of the week once.
Whittaker finished the regular season as the WCC leader in scoring with more than 19 points and 10 rebounds a game.
Allie Turner earned All-WCC First Team recognition after another standout season in the backcourt averaging 14.4 points per game, shooting 45.6 percent from three-point range. She also show 96% from the free-throw line. Turner is a two-time first-team all-conference selection.
Coach of the Year – Aarika Hughes, LMU
Player of the Year – Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
Defensive Player of the Year – Kennedie Shuler, Oregon State
Freshman of the Year – Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
Newcomer of the Year – Jess Lawson, LMU
Sixth Woman of the Year – Jaiden Haile, Gonzaga
2025-26 All-West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball First Team
NAMEYR.POS.SCHOOLCandy EdokpaigbeSo.GSan FranciscoElli GuineySo.GPepperdineAshley HawkinsGr.GSanta ClaraMaya HernandezJr.FLMUMaia JonesR-Jr.GSanta ClaraJess LawsonGr.GLMUKennedie ShulerJr.GOregon StateAllie TurnerSo.GGonzagaJenna VillaJr.GOregon StateLauren WhittakerR-Fr.FGonzaga
2025-26 All-West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Second Team
NAMEYR.POS.SCHOOLDyani AnanievR-So.GPortlandTiara BoldenSr.GOregon StateAndjela MaticSr.GLMUKylie RaySo.GSan DiegoEleonora VillaJr.GWashington State
2025-26 All-West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Honorable Mention
NAMEYR.POS.SCHOOLWinner BartholomewSo.FPacificElla BrubakerGr.GSeattle UAina CargolFr.GSan FranciscoFlorence DallowR-So.GPortlandLina FalkJr.GPepperdineMeghan FisoGr.GPepperdineAva SchmidtJr.FSanta ClaraAbigail ShoffJr.FSaint Mary’sSydney WardSr.GPacific
2025-26 West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball All-Freshman Team
NAMEPOS.SCHOOLAina CargolGSan FranciscoJulia DalanCPortlandJaiden HaileFGonzagaDelainey MillerGSanta ClaraOlivia OwensGSan DiegoLauren WhittakerFGonzaga
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