The University of Mississippi Athletics
10/29/2026 | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – Ole Miss women's basketball senior Talaysia Cooper has been named to the 2026-27 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Thursday.
This marks Cooper's third time on this prestigious preseason list, earning a spot on the late midseason watch list in 2024-25. Additionally, it's the third consecutive year a Rebel has been named to this player of the year watch list, as Cotie McMahon and Madison Scott were each recognized.
The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's board of selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2026-27 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy will be awarded later this season at the 2027 NCAA Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio.
Recognized as the No. 7 best transfer available this offseason, Cooper led Tennessee in scoring (16.0 ppg), assists (3.6 apg), steals (2.7 spg) and 3-pointers (61 total) this past season. She has garnered several individual accolades, including All-SEC second team nods in two consecutive seasons, along with a spot on the 2025 SEC All-Defensive Team. Cooper was recently recognized on the preseason All-SEC first team voted on by the conference coaches, the All-SEC second team in the media preseason poll and the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Watchlist.
Fans will have the chance to catch the Rebels in action for its home opener on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. CT against North Alabama at the SJB Pavilion. There will be an exclusive schedule t-shirt giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance.
Get ready for the next chapter of Ole Miss Women's Basketball by getting season tickets for the 2026-27 season here. Your Rebels have made the tournament five years straight and continue to trend upwards.
Follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on X at @YolettMcCuin.
This marks Cooper's third time on this prestigious preseason list, earning a spot on the late midseason watch list in 2024-25. Additionally, it's the third consecutive year a Rebel has been named to this player of the year watch list, as Cotie McMahon and Madison Scott were each recognized.
The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's board of selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2026-27 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy will be awarded later this season at the 2027 NCAA Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio.
Recognized as the No. 7 best transfer available this offseason, Cooper led Tennessee in scoring (16.0 ppg), assists (3.6 apg), steals (2.7 spg) and 3-pointers (61 total) this past season. She has garnered several individual accolades, including All-SEC second team nods in two consecutive seasons, along with a spot on the 2025 SEC All-Defensive Team. Cooper was recently recognized on the preseason All-SEC first team voted on by the conference coaches, the All-SEC second team in the media preseason poll and the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Watchlist.
Fans will have the chance to catch the Rebels in action for its home opener on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. CT against North Alabama at the SJB Pavilion. There will be an exclusive schedule t-shirt giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance.
Get ready for the next chapter of Ole Miss Women's Basketball by getting season tickets for the 2026-27 season here. Your Rebels have made the tournament five years straight and continue to trend upwards.
Follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on X at @YolettMcCuin.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballWednesday, October 28
Wednesday, October 28
Monday, October 26
Friday, October 16