Kymora Johnson and KK Arnold named to Nancy Lieberman Award watch list

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) have announced the 20-player watch list for the 2027 Nancy Lieberman Award. The award, now in its 28th year, recognizes the top point guard in NCAA Division I women’s college basketball.

Among the candidates are Virginia point guard Kymora Johnson and UConn senior KK Arnold. Johnson, a Preseason All-ACC selection, enters the season following a junior year where she averaged 19.5 points and 5.9 assists per game, helping lead Virginia to its first Sweet Sixteen appearance in 26 years.

Arnold, a Preseason All-BIG EAST selection, joins the list after a season in which she recorded a career-high 174 assists and set a program record for single-season assist-turnover ratio. The watch list will be narrowed to 10 players in February and five players in March.