Harrison Named to Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
January 27, 2026 12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia senior guard Jordan Harrison is one of 25 student-athletes named to the 2026 Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Watch List presented by MOLECULE, the Atlanta Tipoff Club and Naismith Awards announced on Tuesday.
The recognition marks the first time she has been featured on the midseason list. It is the third straight season a Mountaineer has been on the list after JJ Quinerly was featured on it the last two seasons, becoming one of four finalists a season ago.
The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native is averaging 2.5 steals per contest for a total of 51 on the season. Her steals per game are the 49th best in the nation and her steals per game mark sits in the top 50 and leads the conference.
For her career, Harrison is averaging 2.53 steals per game, which ranks sixth in program history. Her 218 steals in just three seasons are the 11th all-time for a Mountaineer.
Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
KK Arnold UConn
Raegan Beers Oklahoma
Lauren Betts UCLA
Mikayla Blakes Vanderbilt
Madison Booker Texas
Kennedy Cambridge Ohio State
Talaysia Cooper Tennessee
Julia Dalan Portland
Jazzy Davidson USC
Joyce Edwards South Carolina
Toby Fournier Duke
Madison Francis Mississippi State
MiLaysia Fulwiley LSU
Rori Harmon Texas
Jordan Harrison West Virginia
Hannah Hidalgo Notre Dame
Uche Izoje Syracuse
Raven Johnson South Carolina
Rashunda Jones Michigan State
Latasha Lattimore Ole Miss
Indya Nivar North Carolina
Khamil Pierre NC State
Ny'Ceara Pryor Texas A&M
Clara Strack Kentucky
Sarah Strong UConn
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The recognition marks the first time she has been featured on the midseason list. It is the third straight season a Mountaineer has been on the list after JJ Quinerly was featured on it the last two seasons, becoming one of four finalists a season ago.
The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native is averaging 2.5 steals per contest for a total of 51 on the season. Her steals per game are the 49th best in the nation and her steals per game mark sits in the top 50 and leads the conference.
For her career, Harrison is averaging 2.53 steals per game, which ranks sixth in program history. Her 218 steals in just three seasons are the 11th all-time for a Mountaineer.
Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
KK Arnold UConn
Raegan Beers Oklahoma
Lauren Betts UCLA
Mikayla Blakes Vanderbilt
Madison Booker Texas
Kennedy Cambridge Ohio State
Talaysia Cooper Tennessee
Julia Dalan Portland
Jazzy Davidson USC
Joyce Edwards South Carolina
Toby Fournier Duke
Madison Francis Mississippi State
MiLaysia Fulwiley LSU
Rori Harmon Texas
Jordan Harrison West Virginia
Hannah Hidalgo Notre Dame
Uche Izoje Syracuse
Raven Johnson South Carolina
Rashunda Jones Michigan State
Latasha Lattimore Ole Miss
Indya Nivar North Carolina
Khamil Pierre NC State
Ny'Ceara Pryor Texas A&M
Clara Strack Kentucky
Sarah Strong UConn
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballMark Kellogg, Meme Wheeler & Sydney Shaw | Arizona State
Wednesday, January 21
Mark Kellogg & Jordan Harrison | TCU
Wednesday, January 14
Mark Kellogg | Iowa State
Sunday, January 11
Mark Kellogg, Jordan Harrison & Carter McCray | Texas Tech
Wednesday, January 07
