Maryland, USC and Minnesota Grab Big Ten Weekly Women’s Basketball Awards

Co-Player of the Week
Kaylene Smikle, Maryland
Junior – Guard – Bay Shore, N.Y. – Westtown
• Led Maryland to three conference wins, including a pair against ranked opponents
• Put together averages of 19.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 steals while shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc
• Tallied 19 points, 11 of which she scored in the second half, against No. 21 Michigan State
• Chipped in 13 points and five steals versus Rutgers
• Record a season-high 26 points and career-best six steals at No. 23 Iowa
• Went 15-for-17 from the free throw line during the stretch
• Earns the first Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last Maryland Player of the Week: Diamond Miller (Feb. 13, 2023)

Co-Player of the Week
JuJu Watkins, USC
Sophomore – Guard – Los Angeles, Calif. – Sierra Canyon
• Averaged 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocks during three USC wins
• Connected on a season-best 13 free throws versus No. 23 Michigan on her way to 31 points
• Scored a game-high 26 points on 11-of-12 free throw shooting against Nebraska
• Record her second double-double of the season behind 23 points and a career-high 14 rebounds at Rutgers
• Over the three-game span, she went 28-of-31 from the charity stripe for a 90.3 percent clip
• Earns the third Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last USC Player of the Week: JuJu Watkins (Dec. 23, 2024)

Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
Lauren Betts, UCLA: Averaged a double-double (19.7 points, 10.0 rebounds) in three victories for the Bruins
Elle Ladine, WASH: Dropped a career-high 40 points in Washington’s win over Northwestern

Freshman of the Week
Tori McKinney, Minnesota
Guard – Minnetonka, Minn. – Minnetonka H.S.
• Helped Minnesota to a trio of victories over that last two weeks
• Posted a team-high 25 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block to lead the Gophers past Penn State
• Also went 8-for-8 at the charity stripe against the Lady Lions
• Added seven points, six assists, four boards and two steals versus Wisconsin
• Had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists against Illinois
• Collects her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel
• Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Grace Grocholski (Feb. 19, 2024)

2024-25 Big Ten Players of the Week
Nov. 11
P: Destiny Adams, Sr., RU
F: Syla Swords, MICH

Nov. 18
P: Lauren Betts, Jr., UCLA
F: Mila Holloway, MICH

Nov. 25
P: Kendall Bostic, 5th-Yr., ILL
F: Lana McCarthy, PUR

Dec. 2
P: Ajae Petty, Gr., OSU
F: Syla Swords, MICH

Dec. 9
P: JuJu Watkins, So., USC
F: Olivia Olson, MICH

Dec. 16
P: Serah Williams, Jr., WIS
F: Kiyomi McMiller, RU

Dec. 23
P: JuJu Watkins, So., USC
F: Kiyomi McMiller, RU

Jan. 6
P: Kaylene Smikle, Jr., MD
P: JuJu Watkins, So., USC
F: Tori McKinney, MINN