October 26, 2026 01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. — The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 20 watch-list candidates for the 2027 Bob Cousy Award and, in partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the 20 watch-list candidates for the 2027 Nancy Lieberman Award.
The annual Bob Cousy Award, named after the Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard, celebrates its 24th year by highlighting the top point guard in NCAA Division I men's college basketball.
Now in its 28th year, the Nancy Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in NCAA Division I women's college basketball. To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking, and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2026-27 season.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy, Lieberman, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The selection committees for the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winners of the 2027 Cousy and Lieberman Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas (2026), Braden Smith, Purdue (2025), Tristen Newton, Connecticut (2024), Markquis Nowell, Kansas State (2023), Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011), and Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph's (2004).
Previous winners of the Nancy Lieberman Award include Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame (2026), Caitlin Clark, Iowa (2022-24), Paige Bueckers, UConn (2021 and '25), Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (2018-20), Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame (2012-13), Diana Taurasi, UConn (2003-04), and Sue Bird, UConn (2000-02).
For more information on the 2027 Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #CousyAward, and #LiebermanAward on X and Instagram.
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981, or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors worldwide. The Hall of Fame museum is home to nearly 500 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Welcoming close to 200,000 visitors each year, the museum invites fans to learn about the game, experience interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates more than 100 high school and collegiate games annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com or follow @hoophallu.
The annual Bob Cousy Award, named after the Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard, celebrates its 24th year by highlighting the top point guard in NCAA Division I men's college basketball.
Now in its 28th year, the Nancy Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in NCAA Division I women's college basketball. To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking, and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
| 2027 Bob Cousy Award Candidates* | 2027 Nancy Lieberman Award Candidates* | ||
| Markus Burton | Indiana | KK Arnold | UConn |
| Elliot Cadeau | Michigan | Jasmine Bascoe | Villanova |
| Jason Crowe Jr. | Missouri | Kennedy Blair | Michigan State |
| Silas Demary Jr. | UConn | Zoe Brooks | NC State |
| Donovan Dent | LSU | Jaloni Cambridge | Ohio State |
| Quinn Ellis | St. John's | Aaliyah Chavez | Oklahoma |
| Jeremy Fears Jr. | Michigan State | Jazzy Davidson | USC |
| Boogie Fland | Florida | Katie Fiso | Oregon |
| Aden Holloway | Alabama | Hannah Hidalgo | Notre Dame |
| Josh Hubbard | Mississippi State | Mila Holloway | Michigan |
| Nigel James Jr. | Marquette | Kymora Johnson | Virginia |
| Acaden Lewis | Miami | Zamareya Jones | Louisville |
| Chance Mallory | Virginia | Liv McGill | Oklahoma State |
| Tahaad Pettiford | Auburn | S'Mya Nichols | Kansas |
| Miles Sadler | West Virginia | Bryanna Preston | Texas |
| Jackson Shelstad | Louisville | Britt Prince | Nebraska |
| Jordan Smith Jr. | Arkansas | Gal Raviv | Miami |
| Tyler Tanner | Vanderbilt | Jada Williams | LSU |
| Dedan Thomas Jr. | Houston | Jadyn Wooten | TCU |
| Robert Wright III | BYU | Chit-Chat Wright | Iowa |
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy, Lieberman, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The selection committees for the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winners of the 2027 Cousy and Lieberman Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas (2026), Braden Smith, Purdue (2025), Tristen Newton, Connecticut (2024), Markquis Nowell, Kansas State (2023), Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011), and Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph's (2004).
Previous winners of the Nancy Lieberman Award include Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame (2026), Caitlin Clark, Iowa (2022-24), Paige Bueckers, UConn (2021 and '25), Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (2018-20), Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame (2012-13), Diana Taurasi, UConn (2003-04), and Sue Bird, UConn (2000-02).
For more information on the 2027 Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #CousyAward, and #LiebermanAward on X and Instagram.
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981, or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors worldwide. The Hall of Fame museum is home to nearly 500 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Welcoming close to 200,000 visitors each year, the museum invites fans to learn about the game, experience interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates more than 100 high school and collegiate games annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com or follow @hoophallu.
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