University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
10/30/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Fan voting starts today via hoophallawards.com!
MINNEAPOLIS - Fifth-year center Gracie Merkle was named to the 20-player watch list for the 2027 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Friday, in partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
The Lisa Leslie Award, now in its 10th year, recognizes the top center in NCAA Division I women's college basketball. It is named after the three-time All-American, 1994 National Player of the Year, and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer.
Fan voting starts today via hoophallawards.com, and Gophers fans are encouraged to vote for Merkle.
A transfer from Penn State, Merkle led the Nittany Lions last season in rebounds (8.2 per game), blocks (1.07 per game) and field goal percentage (.725). She was second on the team in scoring, averaging 19.2 points per game, and posted eight double-doubles. As a junior, she averaged 15.5 points per game and led the team in scoring with 433 points. She averaged 8.6 rebounds per game, led the team with 240 rebounds and tallied 15 double-doubles while scoring in double figures 23 times.
Prior to her time at Penn State, Merkle was a standout at Bellarmine, earning 2023 ASUN Freshman of the Year honors while being named to the All-Freshman and All-Conference Second teams. She led the Knights in scoring (15.1 points per game), rebounding (11 per game), field goal percentage (.702), blocked shots (2.3 per game), field goals made (191), free throw attempts (140) and free throws made (87). In addition, she set program single-season records for field goal percentage (.702) and rebounds (340). Merkle scored in double figures 23 times and recorded 19 double-doubles.
The winner of the 2027 Leslie Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward).
The Golden Gophers open the season on Monday, Nov. 2 when they host Harvard. Game time is set for 5 p.m. CT and will be streamed on B1G+.
2027 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
Sienna Betts (UCLA)
Alex Covill (Washington State)
Audi Crooks (Oklahoma State)
Breya Cunningham (Texas)
Sharnecce Currie-Jelks (Murray State)
Aalyah Del Rosario (Vanderbilt)
Jana El Alfy (UConn)
Ava Heiden (Iowa)
Uche Izoje (Syracuse)
Amiya Joyner (Louisville)
Kate Koval (Baylor)
Elsa Lemmilä (Ohio State)
Gracie Merkle (Minnesota)
Khyala Ngodu (West Virginia)
Arianna Roberson (Duke)
Clara Silva (TCU)
Ashley Sofilkanich (Michigan)
Clara Strack (Kentucky)
Ciera Toomey (North Carolina)
Tilda Trygger (Washington)
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2026-27 season.
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981, or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors worldwide. The Hall of Fame museum is home to nearly 500 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Welcoming close to 200,000 visitors each year, the museum invites fans to learn about the game, experience interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates more than 100 high school and collegiate games annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com or follow @hoophallu.
The Lisa Leslie Award, now in its 10th year, recognizes the top center in NCAA Division I women's college basketball. It is named after the three-time All-American, 1994 National Player of the Year, and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer.
Fan voting starts today via hoophallawards.com, and Gophers fans are encouraged to vote for Merkle.
A transfer from Penn State, Merkle led the Nittany Lions last season in rebounds (8.2 per game), blocks (1.07 per game) and field goal percentage (.725). She was second on the team in scoring, averaging 19.2 points per game, and posted eight double-doubles. As a junior, she averaged 15.5 points per game and led the team in scoring with 433 points. She averaged 8.6 rebounds per game, led the team with 240 rebounds and tallied 15 double-doubles while scoring in double figures 23 times.
Prior to her time at Penn State, Merkle was a standout at Bellarmine, earning 2023 ASUN Freshman of the Year honors while being named to the All-Freshman and All-Conference Second teams. She led the Knights in scoring (15.1 points per game), rebounding (11 per game), field goal percentage (.702), blocked shots (2.3 per game), field goals made (191), free throw attempts (140) and free throws made (87). In addition, she set program single-season records for field goal percentage (.702) and rebounds (340). Merkle scored in double figures 23 times and recorded 19 double-doubles.
The winner of the 2027 Leslie Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward).
The Golden Gophers open the season on Monday, Nov. 2 when they host Harvard. Game time is set for 5 p.m. CT and will be streamed on B1G+.
2027 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
Sienna Betts (UCLA)
Alex Covill (Washington State)
Audi Crooks (Oklahoma State)
Breya Cunningham (Texas)
Sharnecce Currie-Jelks (Murray State)
Aalyah Del Rosario (Vanderbilt)
Jana El Alfy (UConn)
Ava Heiden (Iowa)
Uche Izoje (Syracuse)
Amiya Joyner (Louisville)
Kate Koval (Baylor)
Elsa Lemmilä (Ohio State)
Gracie Merkle (Minnesota)
Khyala Ngodu (West Virginia)
Arianna Roberson (Duke)
Clara Silva (TCU)
Ashley Sofilkanich (Michigan)
Clara Strack (Kentucky)
Ciera Toomey (North Carolina)
Tilda Trygger (Washington)
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2026-27 season.
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981, or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors worldwide. The Hall of Fame museum is home to nearly 500 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Welcoming close to 200,000 visitors each year, the museum invites fans to learn about the game, experience interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates more than 100 high school and collegiate games annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com or follow @hoophallu.
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