PHOENIX — Jakayla Johnson, a graduate student guard at the University of Southern Mississippi, has been named a finalist for the 2026 Lilly Women’s College All-Star Game. The game is scheduled for April 4 at Grand Canyon University’s Global Credit Union Arena and will be televised nationally on ESPN2 at noon Central Time.
The finalist list features 107 players from 75 Division I schools across 19 conferences. Johnson is one of five Sun Belt Conference players selected, the sixth-most from a single league. The finalists were chosen based on WNBA mock drafts and input from a national media panel. The final roster of 20 players and coaches will be announced later this month, according to organizers.
Johnson, a native of Clinton, Mississippi, leads Southern Miss with averages of 15.6 points, 43 steals, and a free throw percentage of 82.5%. She also contributes 4.1 rebounds per game and shoots 45.7% from the floor. This season, she earned a spot on the All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team and has been named to the All-Sun Belt team three times in her career, including first-team honors last season.
She began her college career at Jones College in Mississippi, earning WBCA Two-Year College Coaches All-American honors as a freshman. Johnson also spent a year at Auburn University before transferring to Southern Miss. At ULM, she led the Warhawks with 15.8 points per game last season and helped lead the team to a WNIT postseason run, earning third-team all-Louisiana honors from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Johnson’s collegiate journey also includes two seasons at Auburn, where she played 30 games in 2022-23, starting 17. Her earlier career highlights include her time at Jones College, where she posted 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a freshman, helping the team achieve a No. 1 ranking and a 20-1 record.
Fans can follow Southern Miss women’s basketball on social media platforms or visit the university’s athletic website for updates, schedules, and more information.
