Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus Fort Hays State (exh.) on October 29, 2025 , Win , 90, to, 59
Final
Women's Basketball
90
vs Fort Hays State (exh.)
59
S’Mya Nichols Named to Lieberman Award Preseason Watch List
10/27/2025 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Standout Kansas junior guard S'Mya Nichols has been recognized as one of 20 nominees on the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List.
The prestigious award is one of the Naismith Starting 5 awards offered, going to the best point guard in women's college basketball and presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to highlight the elite talent in the sport.
The awards watch list will remain fluid as the season progresses, giving players the opportunity to move on and off the list until the Final 5 are selected. The list will narrow down to 10 players in late January, with the Final 5 being announced in March. The award winner and presentation details will be revealed at the Final Four in Indianapolis.
Nichols, a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Big 12 team, is coming off a stellar sophomore season that concluded with her receiving All-America Honorable Mention from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Now a two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection, Nichols led the Jayhawks and ranked fifth in the Big 12 in scoring at 18.6 points per game, while scoring in double figures 26 times in 30 games, with 16 games of scoring 20 or more points.
From Overland Park, Kansas, Nichols became the second-fastest player in program history to score 1,000 career points, doing so in 58 games. Through two seasons at KU, Nichols has started 63 games and scored 1,065 points, an average of 16.9 per game. Last season, Nichols shattered the single season school record for free throws made with 218, which ranked second in the nation and fifth in Big 12 history. She shot 83.8 percent (218-260) from the free throw line, 46.2 percent (156-338) from the field and 38.0 percent (27-71) from three-point range last season.
Nichols is one of four players from the Big 12 Conference on the Lieberman Award watch list, joined by Jada Williams (Iowa State), Olivia Miles (TCU) and Jordan Harrison (West Virginia). Every winner of the Lieberman Award since 2017 has gone on to be the No. 1 overall draft pick in the WNBA Draft, with previous winners including Paige Bueckers (2021, 2025), Caitlin Clark (2022-24), Sabrina Ionescu (2018-20) and Kelsey Plum (2017).
The point guard of the year award is named for Lieberman, who led Old Dominion University to back-to-back AIAW national championships in 1979 and 1980. As a 5-10 point guard, Lieberman was taller than many of the guards of her era, and her ability to drive to the hoop, dish out assists and grab hard-fought rebounds served her well during her stellar career. She was twice named the winner of the Wade Trophy – a basketball first – and was the top female athlete during those two seasons, also winning the Broderick Cup twice.
Lieberman played professionally in the Women's Professional Basketball League, Women's American Basketball Association, United States Basketball League, Women's National Basketball Association, and with the Washington Generals. In 1984, she earned WABA MVP honors as she led her team to the WABA championship. In 1998, Lieberman was hired as general manager and head coach of the WNBA's Detroit Shock. She coached for three seasons. On July 30, 2015, Lieberman became the second woman in history to join the coaching staff of an NBA team, when she was hired as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings.
Nichols and the Jayhawks will play their lone exhibition contest on Wednesday, Oct. 29, hosting Fort Hays State at 6:30 p.m. CT. Kansas opens the regular season on Nov. 5, hosting Kansas City for the first of seven non-conference home contests. Season tickets for Kansas women's basketball season are on sale now. For as low as $110, fans can reserve their seat at Allen Fieldhouse for the upcoming season. To learn more about ticket options, fans are encouraged to visit KUAthletics.com or call 800-34-HAWKS.
The prestigious award is one of the Naismith Starting 5 awards offered, going to the best point guard in women's college basketball and presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to highlight the elite talent in the sport.
The awards watch list will remain fluid as the season progresses, giving players the opportunity to move on and off the list until the Final 5 are selected. The list will narrow down to 10 players in late January, with the Final 5 being announced in March. The award winner and presentation details will be revealed at the Final Four in Indianapolis.
Nichols, a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Big 12 team, is coming off a stellar sophomore season that concluded with her receiving All-America Honorable Mention from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Now a two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection, Nichols led the Jayhawks and ranked fifth in the Big 12 in scoring at 18.6 points per game, while scoring in double figures 26 times in 30 games, with 16 games of scoring 20 or more points.
From Overland Park, Kansas, Nichols became the second-fastest player in program history to score 1,000 career points, doing so in 58 games. Through two seasons at KU, Nichols has started 63 games and scored 1,065 points, an average of 16.9 per game. Last season, Nichols shattered the single season school record for free throws made with 218, which ranked second in the nation and fifth in Big 12 history. She shot 83.8 percent (218-260) from the free throw line, 46.2 percent (156-338) from the field and 38.0 percent (27-71) from three-point range last season.
Nichols is one of four players from the Big 12 Conference on the Lieberman Award watch list, joined by Jada Williams (Iowa State), Olivia Miles (TCU) and Jordan Harrison (West Virginia). Every winner of the Lieberman Award since 2017 has gone on to be the No. 1 overall draft pick in the WNBA Draft, with previous winners including Paige Bueckers (2021, 2025), Caitlin Clark (2022-24), Sabrina Ionescu (2018-20) and Kelsey Plum (2017).
The point guard of the year award is named for Lieberman, who led Old Dominion University to back-to-back AIAW national championships in 1979 and 1980. As a 5-10 point guard, Lieberman was taller than many of the guards of her era, and her ability to drive to the hoop, dish out assists and grab hard-fought rebounds served her well during her stellar career. She was twice named the winner of the Wade Trophy – a basketball first – and was the top female athlete during those two seasons, also winning the Broderick Cup twice.
Lieberman played professionally in the Women's Professional Basketball League, Women's American Basketball Association, United States Basketball League, Women's National Basketball Association, and with the Washington Generals. In 1984, she earned WABA MVP honors as she led her team to the WABA championship. In 1998, Lieberman was hired as general manager and head coach of the WNBA's Detroit Shock. She coached for three seasons. On July 30, 2015, Lieberman became the second woman in history to join the coaching staff of an NBA team, when she was hired as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings.
Nichols and the Jayhawks will play their lone exhibition contest on Wednesday, Oct. 29, hosting Fort Hays State at 6:30 p.m. CT. Kansas opens the regular season on Nov. 5, hosting Kansas City for the first of seven non-conference home contests. Season tickets for Kansas women's basketball season are on sale now. For as low as $110, fans can reserve their seat at Allen Fieldhouse for the upcoming season. To learn more about ticket options, fans are encouraged to visit KUAthletics.com or call 800-34-HAWKS.
Players Mentioned
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