Ole Miss senior Talaysia Cooper has been named to the 2026-27 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Thursday.
It is Cooper’s third appearance on the preseason list. She also earned a place on the late midseason watch list in 2024-25. Ole Miss has had a player recognized on the award watch list in each of the past three years; Cotie McMahon and Madison Scott were also selected.
Cooper led Tennessee last season with 16.0 points, 3.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game, along with 61 3-pointers. She has earned All-SEC second-team honors in consecutive seasons and was named to the 2025 SEC All-Defensive Team.
Cooper was also selected for the preseason All-SEC first team by conference coaches and the second team in the media poll. She was named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award preseason watch list for the nation’s top shooting guard.
The Naismith Trophy will be presented later this season at the 2027 NCAA Women’s Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. Ole Miss is scheduled to open its home season against North Alabama on Nov. 5 at the SJB Pavilion. The calendar lists tipoff for 6 p.m. CT, with a schedule T-shirt giveaway planned for the first 500 fans.
