Mississippi State’s Madison Francis Named to McClain Award Watch List

Mississippi State forward Madison Francis was named to the 2027 Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award watch list, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Thursday. Francis is among 20 players nationally on the list.

The 6-foot-3 sophomore from Lancaster, New York, is the fourth Mississippi State player named to the award’s preseason watch list. She is the first Bulldog to receive the recognition since the 2023-24 season. The award is part of the Naismith Starting Five, which recognizes top players at five positions.

Francis led the nation in blocks per game during her freshman season, averaging 2.8. She also averaged 13.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Her 88 blocks set a Mississippi State freshman record, surpassing the 82 Martha Alwal recorded in 2011-12, and ranked third in a single season in program history.

Francis had a season-high seven blocks, the most by an SEC player last season, and a high of seven steals, second among SEC freshmen. She recorded at least three blocks in 17 games, including four games with six or more. After one season, she ranked eighth on Mississippi State’s career blocks list.

Fan voting was scheduled to begin Friday, Oct. 30. The watch list will be reduced to 10 players during the season and five finalists in March, according to the announcement. Mississippi State was scheduled to open its season Tuesday, Nov. 3, against North Alabama at Humphrey Coliseum.

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