October 30, 2026 | Women's Basketball
SEATTLE - Washington center Tilda Trygger has been named to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award Preseason Watchlist for a second consecutive year, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced this week.
The award recognizes the top center in NCAA Division I women's basketball. Trygger is one of 20 players named to the Preseason Watchlist.
The third-year center established herself as one of the nation's most dynamic centers in her sophomore season. Trygger averaged 10.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game, finishing the 2025-26 season with 14 double-digit scoring games, 6 double-digit rebounding games, and 5 double-doubles. She was efficient throughout her second year, shooting 52% from the field, and connecting on 34% of her attempts from behind the arc.
Trygger opened the 2025-26 regular season by facing 3 ranked opponents in her first 4 games. In those contests she averaged 14.0 points and 8.3 rebounds, including a 19 point, eight-rebound, two-block, two-steal game against No. 8 Tennessee and a 15-point, six-rebound, two-block, and two-steal game against No. 17 TCU.
At the start of conference play, Trygger had 3 consecutive double-doubles: 19 points and 11 rebounds at Clemson (1/8), 13 points and 10 boards against SMU (1/11), and 18 points and 13 rebounds at Wake Forest (1/15). Trygger earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors following the 2024-25 season.
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 on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. PT in Alaska Airlines Arena.
For more information on the 2027 Lisa Leslie Center of The Year Award visit hoophallawards.com.
