USC’s Davidson wins 2025-26 Tamika Catchings Award

USC’s Davidson wins 2025-26 Tamika Catchings Award

 

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) — Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson of USC has been named the winner of the Tamika Catchings Award, presented annually by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to the nation’s top freshman in women’s college basketball.ing the Tamika Catchings Award, recognizing the nation’s top freshman in women’s college basketball.

Davidson will be honored at the Women’s Final Four in Phoenix and will formally receive the award at the upcoming USBWA College Basketball Awards Banquet on April 13 in St. Louis, hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club, along with the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award winner, UConn’s Sarah Strong, and Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph, the USBWA’s Women’s National Coach of the Year.

Davidson’s versatility defined her season. She became the only player among the Division I women to lead her team outright in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, showcasing a rare two-way impact for a first-year player. She scored in double figures 29 times, including 26 straight at one point, and recorded 14 games of 20 or more points highlighted by two 30-point performances during the regular season.

Her defensive impact was equally impressive. Davidson averaged 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game, making her the only player in Division I averaging at least two blocks and two steals, while ranking among the Big Ten leaders in both categories.

“We have had some freshmen provide us with some phenomenal performances over the years.” said USBWA Vice President Mel Greenberg. “Jazzy Davidson has been right in line game after game as another watchable attraction for women’s basketball.”

Davidson’s emergence helped steady a USC team that played the entire season without injured All-American guard JuJu Watkins, the 2024 winner of the Tamika Catchings Award. With Watkins sidelined, Davidson assumed a central role in the Trojans’ offense and defense, guiding USC through a demanding Big Ten schedule and into the NCAA Tournament.

Her standout play earned widespread recognition. Davidson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year while also earning First-Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten All-Defensive Team and Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors. She also received Associated Press and USBWA All-America honorable mention recognition and was named National Freshman of the Year by The Athletic.

Davidson delivered one of the season’s most memorable performances in her NCAA Tournament debut, scoring 31 points against Clemson, the most by a USC freshman in NCAA Tournament history and the second-highest single-game total ever by a Trojan in tournament play. She became the first freshman in 25 years to record a 30-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist performance in an NCAA Tournament debut.

Named in honor of Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, the award recognizes the nation’s most outstanding freshman women’s basketball player each season. Catchings starred at Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball before a Hall of Fame professional career with the Indiana Fever.

Davidson becomes the latest standout freshman honored by the USBWA and continues USC’s tradition of elite newcomers making an immediate national impact.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association, founded in 1956, is comprised of journalists, broadcasters and publicists who cover college basketball. The organization annually presents many of the sport’s most prestigious honors, including the Tamika Catchings Award, recognizing the nation’s top freshman in women’s college basketball. For more information about the USBWA and its award programs, contact Malcolm Moran at malcolm@usbwa.com.

ALL-TIME USBWA WOMEN’S NATIONAL FRESHMAN PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

TAMIKA CATCHINGS AWARD

2025-26: Jazzy Davison, USC
2024-25: Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
2023-24: JuJu Watkins, USC
2022-23: Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State
2021-22: Aneesah Morrow, DePaul
2020-21: Paige Bueckers, UConn; Caitlin Clark, Iowa

USBWA NATIONAL FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2019-20: Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
2018-19: Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
2017-18: Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M
2016-17: Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon
2015-16: Kristine Anigwe, California
2014-15: Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State
2013-14: Diamond DeShields, North Carolina
2012-13: Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame
2011-12: Elizabeth Williams, Duke
2010-11: Odyssey Sims, Baylor
2009-10: Brittney Griner, Baylor
2008-09: Shekinna Stricklen, Tennessee
2007-08: Maya Moore, UConn
2006-07: Tina Charles, UConn
2005-06: Courtney Paris, Oklahoma
2004-05: Tasha Humphrey, Georgia; Candice Wiggins, Stanford
2003-04: Tiffany Jackson, Texas
2002-03: Seimone Augustus, LSU
2001-02: Jacqueline Batteast, Notre Dame
2000-01: Alana Beard, Duke
1999-00: LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State
1998-99: Linda Froehlich, UNLV
1997-98: Tamika Catchings, Tennessee
1996-97: Shea Ralph, UConn
1995-96: Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee
1994-95: Korie Hlede, Duquesne
1993-94: Leslie Johnson, Purdue
1992-93: Katie Smith, Ohio State
1991-92: Niesa Johnson, Alabama