BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Freshman guard Jasmine Nivar was one of 20 first-year NCAA women's basketball players to be named to the preseason watch list for the 2025-26 Tamika Catchings Award, presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
 
The USBWA announced the list of 20 players earlier this week, and Nivar was one of only two players from mid-major teams among the group.
 
The USBWA has named a national freshman player of the year since the 1991-92 season, and they named the award after Tamika Catchings in the 2020-21 season. Catchings won the association's national freshman player of the year award in the 1997-98 season and was a three-time USBWA All-American.
 
Nivar opened her collegiate career in historic fashion, becoming the first Camel in program history to score 20 points in her collegiate debut, doing so against Tulane this past Monday.
 
Below is the full list of 20 student athletes to make the award's watch list.
 
The USBWA was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 800 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at malcolm@usbwa.com.
 
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2025-26 Tamika Catchings Award Preseason Watch List
Dee Alexander, Cincinnati
Sienna Betts, UCLA
Nyla Brooks, North Carolina
Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma
Aaliyah Crump, Texas
Jazzy Davidson, USC
Addie Deal, Iowa
Ines Garcia, Davidson
Lena Girardi, Oklahoma State
Grace Knox, LSU
Leah Macy, Notre Dame
Agot Makeer, South Carolina
Brynn McGaughy, Washington
Jasmine Nivar, Campbell
Mia Pauldo, Tennessee
Blanca Quiñonez, UConn
Emilee Skinner, Duke
Lara Somfai, Stanford
Hailee Swain, Stanford
Nylah Wilson, Pitt