Strack Attack Crowned Naismith Trophy Player of the Week
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Clara Strack, a Naismith Trophy Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year candidate, has been named the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week for the first time of her college career, it was announced by the organization Monday.
She led Kentucky in back-to-back Southeastern Conference wins on 22.5 points per game, 11.0 rebounds per game, 2.5 blocks per game and 1.5 assists per game, while shooting 50.0 percent from inside the arc during that stretch.
More recently, she put up 28 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and an assist to help Kentucky take down No. 14/16 Ole Miss inside Historic Memorial Coliseum on Sunday. She became the first Kentucky player to record at least 28 points and nine rebounds against an Associated Press Top 15 team since Rhyne Howard at No. 12 Mississippi State on Jan. 3, 2021.
Strack’s scoring performance marked her sixth 20-plus point game of the season, which leads the team. Ten of her points came on 5-of-10 shooting in the fourth quarter to keep the Rebels from closing the gap.
She also went 6-of-6 from the line in that game.
The junior improved to 71 blocks, which is just two away from breaking her own single-season school record that she set as a sophomore with 73 in 2024-25. She is the only player in program history to put together two seasons with at least 70 blocks.
Her 71 blocks and her 2.63 blocks per game are both third in the country.
Prior to the Rebels, she helped the Wildcats defeat the Aggies on her 13th double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds. She also had three blocks and two assists in that game.
She has dished out multiple assists in 17-of-27 games this season.
Overall in 2025-26, she is averaging 16.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.62 bpg, 1.96 apg and 1.3 spg. She is the only player in the country averaging all of those stats, a testament to her versatility.
Strack, a 6-5 center from Buffalo, New York, has hauled in quite the list of awards and honors this season.
Weekly Awards
Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Player of the Week (Feb. 16, 2026)
USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week (Feb. 3, 2026)
USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week (Nov. 25, 2025)
SEC Player of the Week (Nov. 25, 2025)
Annual Awards
2025-26 Wooden Award Late Midseason Top 20 Watch List
2025-26 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Preseason Top 10 Midseason List
2025-26 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
2025-26 Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List
2025-26 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watch List
2025-26 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year Watch List
2025-26 Preseason All-SEC Second Team by the Media
2025-26 Preseason All-SEC Second Team by the Coaches
For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
