News - Serah Williams Shines as UConn's First Lisa Leslie Award Midseason Top 10 in Five Years

In an impressive show of skill on the basketball court, Serah Williams of the UConn women’s basketball team has earned a coveted spot on the midseason top 10 list for the Lisa Leslie Award, an accolade given to the nation's standout center. This marks a significant achievement for UConn, as their last nominee on this list was Olivia Nelson-Ododa back in the 2020-21 season. Though UConn has never secured a win in this specific category since its inception in 2018, Williams' recognition is a testament to her skill and potential. Williams joined UConn from Wisconsin for her final year of college basketball. Despite a more confined role compared to her previous stint, she has shown consistency and resilience. Her current stats stand at an average of 7.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game, maintaining efficiency with a shooting percentage of 58.1% from the field. Notably, she has managed to reduce turnovers to a career-low, showing growth and adaptation in her new environment. The Lisa Leslie Award last year was awarded to UCLA’s Lauren Betts, who remains a contender this season, alongside other strong candidates such as Iowa State’s Audi Crooks and Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers—all previous finalists from 2025. This season, UConn has made significant inroads across multiple Hall of Fame positional awards. Besides Williams, sophomore Sarah Strong is in contention for the Katrina McClain Award, tagged for the premier power forward. Meanwhile, Azzi Fudd’s exceptional play has earned her a spot for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, dedicated to exemplary shooting guards. The last time UConn celebrated a Hall of Fame award victory was when Paige Bueckers clinched the Nancy Lieberman Award in both 2025 and 2021. The complete midseason top 10 centers vying for the Lisa Leslie Award include Raegan Beers (Oklahoma), Lauren Betts (UCLA), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Ava Heiden (Iowa), Ra Shaya Kyle (Miami), Brooklyn Meyer (South Dakota State), Madina Okot (South Carolina), Clara Strack (Kentucky), Tilda Trygger (NC State), and UConn’s own Serah Williams. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Williams to see if she can continue her impressive form and secure history for herself and for UConn.