October 27, 2026 | Women's Basketball
SEATTLE - Washington guard Avery Howell has been named to the 2027 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award preseason watch list, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday.
The award recognizes the top shooting guard in NCAA Division I women's basketball. Howell was one of 20 players named to the preseason watchlist.
Howell emerged as one of the Big Ten's premier two-way players in her first season with the Huskies, leading the conference with 6.8 defensive rebounds per game and shooting an efficient 43.1% from deep. She averaged 14.2 points and a team-leading 8.3 rebounds per game in 2025–26, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition.
Throughout the season, Howell delivered consistently, elevating the Huskies in critical games. Howell was vital in the Huskies' upset of No. 6 Michigan on Jan. 1, 2026, where she scored 22 points and gathered 16 rebounds, leading the team in both categories. The performance resulted in her first USBWA National Player of the Week award. In Washington's win over Wisconsin, Howell recorded another 34 points and 14 rebounds with six made threes. She recorded yet another double-double in a hard-fought win at No. 16 Maryland with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and set a new career high with 5 steals. She ultimately concluded the season with seven double doubles.
Her 85 three-pointers during the season moved her into 3rd in the Husky record books, and her three-point percentage (43.1%) was good for 8th in the program's history.
In the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Howell set a new career high with 7 three-pointers against the South Dakota State, tied for the third highest mark in NCAA Tournament history. She finished with 30 points in the first-round win, becoming the first Husky to score +30 in the tournament since 2017.
Fan voting begins Friday, Oct. 30, with three rounds of voting. The 20-player watch list will be narrowed to 10 candidates in February and five finalists in March. Cast your vote here!
Washington will open its season with a matchup against UC San Diego which will take place on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. PT in Alaska Airlines Arena.
For more information on the 2027 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award visit hoophallawards.com.
The award recognizes the top shooting guard in NCAA Division I women's basketball. Howell was one of 20 players named to the preseason watchlist.
Howell emerged as one of the Big Ten's premier two-way players in her first season with the Huskies, leading the conference with 6.8 defensive rebounds per game and shooting an efficient 43.1% from deep. She averaged 14.2 points and a team-leading 8.3 rebounds per game in 2025–26, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition.
Throughout the season, Howell delivered consistently, elevating the Huskies in critical games. Howell was vital in the Huskies' upset of No. 6 Michigan on Jan. 1, 2026, where she scored 22 points and gathered 16 rebounds, leading the team in both categories. The performance resulted in her first USBWA National Player of the Week award. In Washington's win over Wisconsin, Howell recorded another 34 points and 14 rebounds with six made threes. She recorded yet another double-double in a hard-fought win at No. 16 Maryland with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and set a new career high with 5 steals. She ultimately concluded the season with seven double doubles.
Her 85 three-pointers during the season moved her into 3rd in the Husky record books, and her three-point percentage (43.1%) was good for 8th in the program's history.
In the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Howell set a new career high with 7 three-pointers against the South Dakota State, tied for the third highest mark in NCAA Tournament history. She finished with 30 points in the first-round win, becoming the first Husky to score +30 in the tournament since 2017.
Fan voting begins Friday, Oct. 30, with three rounds of voting. The 20-player watch list will be narrowed to 10 candidates in February and five finalists in March. Cast your vote here!
Washington will open its season with a matchup against UC San Diego which will take place on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. PT in Alaska Airlines Arena.
For more information on the 2027 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award visit hoophallawards.com.
Players Mentioned
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