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Jaliya Davis Selected as KC Sports Commission Sportswoman of the Year
7/30/2026 10:31:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Record-setting Kansas forward Jaliya Davis has been chosen as the 2026 Children's Mercy Sportswoman of the Year, the KC Sports Commission has announced. The award is one of seven that will be presented at the 2026 Kansas City Sports Awards on August 26.
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Davis becomes the second Jayhawk to be named Sportswoman of the Year, joining volleyball standout Cassie Wait who received the award in 2017. The Sportswoman of the Year award is given to a local athlete who is currently participating in amateur, high school, collegiate or professional sports, while exemplifying all the positive aspects of sport and has made a demonstrable impact on the Kansas City community.
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Davis had a superb freshman season for the Jayhawks, averaging 19.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. She scored 20 or more points 15 times, which ranks sixth in school history for a single season and is third-most in Big 12 history by a freshman. During Big 12 play, Davis ranked second in the league in scoring with 21.5 points per game, while leading the league by shooting 63.6 percent (136-of-214) from the field.
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A McDonald's All-American and Overland Park native, Davis earned All-America Honorable Mention from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association for her stellar play. She was also named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and an All-Big 12 First Team selection. Davis set a new power conference record with nine-consecutive Big 12 Freshman of the Week awards, sweeping the honor in January, February and March. Davis was also named to the WBIT All-Tournament Team, and she was selected as the USBWA Co-National Freshman of the Week on Feb. 10.
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Davis came to KU following a standout prep career at Blue Valley North HS, where she led her team to Class 6A State Championships in 2023 and 2025, along with a third-place finish in 2024. She is the all-time leading scorer in school history with 1,735 career points, which came as a product of setting the single season scoring record in each of her final three seasons. Davis was named the Kansas Gatorade State Player of the Year in 2025, and she was the co-winner of the Direnna Award, which honors the top high school basketball player in the Kansas City metro area.
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Davis will now be recognized at the Kansas City Sports Awards, which will be held on Wednesday, August 26 at the Muehleblach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The event will start with a 5:30 p.m. CT reception followed by the dinner and awards program, scheduled for 7 p.m.
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Davis becomes the second Jayhawk to be named Sportswoman of the Year, joining volleyball standout Cassie Wait who received the award in 2017. The Sportswoman of the Year award is given to a local athlete who is currently participating in amateur, high school, collegiate or professional sports, while exemplifying all the positive aspects of sport and has made a demonstrable impact on the Kansas City community.
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Davis had a superb freshman season for the Jayhawks, averaging 19.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. She scored 20 or more points 15 times, which ranks sixth in school history for a single season and is third-most in Big 12 history by a freshman. During Big 12 play, Davis ranked second in the league in scoring with 21.5 points per game, while leading the league by shooting 63.6 percent (136-of-214) from the field.
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A McDonald's All-American and Overland Park native, Davis earned All-America Honorable Mention from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association for her stellar play. She was also named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and an All-Big 12 First Team selection. Davis set a new power conference record with nine-consecutive Big 12 Freshman of the Week awards, sweeping the honor in January, February and March. Davis was also named to the WBIT All-Tournament Team, and she was selected as the USBWA Co-National Freshman of the Week on Feb. 10.
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Davis came to KU following a standout prep career at Blue Valley North HS, where she led her team to Class 6A State Championships in 2023 and 2025, along with a third-place finish in 2024. She is the all-time leading scorer in school history with 1,735 career points, which came as a product of setting the single season scoring record in each of her final three seasons. Davis was named the Kansas Gatorade State Player of the Year in 2025, and she was the co-winner of the Direnna Award, which honors the top high school basketball player in the Kansas City metro area.
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Davis will now be recognized at the Kansas City Sports Awards, which will be held on Wednesday, August 26 at the Muehleblach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The event will start with a 5:30 p.m. CT reception followed by the dinner and awards program, scheduled for 7 p.m.
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