The final three days of 2025 and the first four days of 2026 led to some incredible performances, and we have our most finalists for women’s player of the week. It was too tough for our staff to narrow the list down to five, so we have seven nominees.
Now, it’s up to you to decide which of these worthy candidates takes home the honor of women’s player of the week.
Taylee Chirrick (Montana State)
Chirrick averaged 21 points, 7.5 rebounds and three steals per game as the Bobcats opened Big Sky play 2-0 for the first time since 2010-11.
The sophomore poured in a career-high 27 points on 12-of-19 shooting, eight rebounds and five steals in an 82-65 W at Northern Arizona. The guard opened the week with 15 points and seven boards in MSU’s 86-79 win at Northern Colorado. She shot 17-for-31 (55%) for the week.
Sharnecce Currie-Jelks (Murray State)
Currie-Jelks posted a stellar week and averaged 21.3 points and 18.7 rebounds thanks to two 20-point, 20-rebound performances as the Racers went 3-0. The forward was the third Division-I player since 2003 to have consecutive 20–20 games. The junior compiled 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting and 21 rebounds in Murray’s 101-93 double-overtime win over Illinois State to open Missouri Valley play. She followed it up with 24 points and 20 rebounds in the Racers’ 93-82 win over Bradley, also in double OT. The Jackson, Tenn., native opened the week with 19 points and 14 boards in Murray State’s 90-80 win over Evansville. She has 11 double-doubles this season, which is tied for the second-most in Division I. The Racers have won 10 in a row.
Hilary Fuller (Belmont)
Fuller had a career day in the Bruins’ 75-68 win over Illinois State on Sunday. The sophomore notched a career-high 27 points (13 of which came in the first quarter) and tied a career-best with nine rebounds. She went 11-for-21 from the field, which is the most field goals she’s made in a single game. That marked the second straight game the forward netted a career high. The Aussie compiled 20 points in just 21 minutes of action in Belmont’s 78-57 win over Bradley Friday. Fuller opened the week with 17 points in the Bruins’ 68-56 win at Southern Illinois.
Gigi Gamble (Monmouth)
Gamble scored at least 25 points in three Hawk wins. The junior poured in a career-high 30 points 6-of-11 shooting from downtown in Monmouth’s 77-62 win over Elon to open CAA play. The guard knocked in 25 points, while also converting 4-of-7 from deep, in a 61-55 win over N.C. A&T. The Somerset, N.J., native also had 27 points in the Hawks’ 74-40 win over Georgian Court. She nearly doubled her scoring average for the season over the three games.
Avery Koenen (North Dakota State)
Koenen averaged 20 points and 10.7 rebounds in a 3-0 week for the Bison as they extended their win streak to 11. The junior recorded 25 points and 11 rebounds in NDSU’s 81-44 road win at Denver. The forward preceded that performance with 16 points and 14 boards in North Dakota State’s 76-68 victory at Oral Roberts, which was its first win in Tulsa since 2009. She has 10 double-doubles this season. The Montevideo, Minn., native opened the week with 19 points in just 20 minutes of action in blowout win over Saint Mary’s (Minn.).
Kya Smith (Army)
Smith had a historic day with one of the best single-game performances in program history. The junior posted a career-high 27 points and 22 rebounds in the Black Knights’ win over 64-56 win over Howard. She knocked down all 15 of her free throw attempts. She’s the second Patriot League player to notch a 27-point, 22-rebound game since the 2009-10 season. The Lubbock, Texas, native closed the week with 18 points and 13 rebounds in Army’s 77-66 loss to Lehigh.
Hannah Wickstrom (UC Riverside)
Wickstromaveraged 33 points on 67% shooting, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 steals and two assists. That scoring average was second most in the country for the week (behind Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes). The sophomore poured in a career-high 36 points and six rebounds in the Highlanders’ 65-58 win over Hawai’i on New Year’s Day. She shot 11-for-19 from the field and converted all 11 of her free throw attempts. The guard from Melbourne, Australia, started the week with 30 points in UCR’s 93-52 win against UC Merced. She shot 13-of-17 (76.5%) and came away with a career-high seven steals. Wickstrom leads the Big West with 20.8 points and three steals per game.
