The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced that Murray State’s Sharnecce Currie-Jelks has been included on the 20-player watch list for the 2027 Lisa Leslie Award.
 
The Lisa Leslie Award, now in its 10th year, recognizes the top center in NCAA Division I women’s college basketball. It is named after the three-time All-American, 1994 National Player of the Year, and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer.
 
Currie-Jelks, the league’s 2026 Newcomer of the Year, was the only player in The Valley to average a double-double last season, sitting at 17.4 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. She led the nation with 26 double-doubles, while ranking sixth in Division I with 409 total rebounds. Currie-Jelks ranked second in the MVC in field goal percentage, shooting 55.1% from the field, while finishing fourth in the league with 608 total points.
 
Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point during the 2026-27 season. Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting today, Friday, October 30, via the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame website.
 
In February, the watch list of 20 players will be narrowed down to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to a selection committee. The winner of the 2027 Lisa Leslie Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five.
 
2027 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name
Sienna Betts, UCLA
Alex Covill, Washington State
Audi Crooks, Oklahoma State
Breya Cunningham, Texas
Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, Murray State
Aalyah Del Rosario, Vanderbilt
Jana El Alfy, UConn
Ava Heiden, Iowa
Uche Izoje, Syracuse
Amiya Joyner, Louisville
Kate Koval, Baylor
Elsa Lemmilä, Ohio State
Gracie Merkle, Minnesota
Khyala Ngodu, West Virginia
Arianna Roberson, Duke
Clara Silva, TCU
Ashley Sofilkanich, Michigan
Clara Strack, Kentucky
Ciera Toomey, North Carolina
Tilda Trygger, Washington