Ole Miss Women’s Basketball Star Latasha Lattimore Named to Midyear Watch List for Naismith Defensive Award

ROSWELL, Ga. — Ole Miss women’s basketball senior forward Latasha Lattimore has been selected to the 2026 Naismith Women’s College Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Tuesday.

She is one of 25 student-athletes nationwide to earn the honor and one of seven forwards included. Lattimore is also one of 12 players from Southeastern Conference schools to make the list. If she wins, she would become the first Rebel in Ole Miss history to earn the award, which has been given for 51 years.

Lattimore has been a defensive force for Ole Miss this season. She has accumulated 45 blocks, averaging 2.1 per game, which ranks third in the SEC and 21st nationally, according to the university. She also has 86 defensive rebounds, the third-most on her team. Earlier in the season, she had a streak of at least one block in 12 consecutive games, the longest by a Rebel since Dominique Banks’ 19-game stretch during the 2019-20 season.

The senior has had eight games with at least three blocks, matching a performance last achieved by Rita Igbokwe in the 2022-23 season. She has recorded two games with five or more blocks, including a career-high six against Mississippi Valley State and five against Texas in Austin. Offensively, Lattimore averages 10.2 points on nearly 50% shooting.

Tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale through OleMissTix.com. Follow Ole Miss women’s basketball on X at @OleMissWBB, Facebook, and Instagram. Head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin can be followed on X at @YolettMcCuin.

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