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2024-25 Academic All-America® Teams and Honorees
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Iriafen, Foster, Bruns and Frasure highlight 2024-25 Academic All-America® Women's Basketball teams
Four talented student-athletes headline 2024-25 Academic All-America women's basketball teams; Bruns repeats in Division III
Women's Basketball Release (NCAA, NAIA Divisions): PDF | doc
GREENWOOD, Indiana – College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced Wednesday the 2024-25 Academic All-America® women’s basketball teams for NCAA Division I-II-III and NAIA, headlined by University of Southern California’s
Kiki Iriafen,
Grace Foster from Lubbock Christian University, New York University’s
Natalie Bruns, and
Lilli Frasure of Indiana Wesleyan University.
Iriafen (Division I), Foster (Division II), Bruns (Division III) and Frasure (NAIA) have each been named the Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year award winners for their respective divisions.
Four members of the Division I Academic All-America® team were selected in the WNBA Draft on April 14 led by DI Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year
Kiki Iriafen of USC, who was the fourth player selected in the first round by the Washington Mystics. Alabama’s
Sarah Ashlee Barker was the ninth player selected in the first round by the Los Angeles Sparks. Two players were picked in the third round, Kansas State’s
Serena Sundell was the 26th overall pick by the Seattle Storm and Gonzaga University’s
Yvonne Ejim was the 33rd overall pick by the Indiana Fever.
NCAA Division I
A power forward from Los Angeles,
Kiki Iriafen has been named the Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for Division I. The senior carries a 3.54 GPA while pursuing her graduate degree in entrepreneurship and innovation at USC, after earning an undergraduate degree from Stanford in design engineering with a 3.52 GPA. She led the Trojans to the program's first regular-season conference title since 1994, their highest AP ranking since 1984, and an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2024-25. She was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America Team, in addition to being named to the AP and United States Basketball Writers Association All-America Third Teams. Iriafen was also a unanimous selection to the 2025 All-Big Ten First Team. She finished the season with 12 double-doubles and averaged 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 49 percent from the floor. She ranked 15th in the nation with 4.1 offensive rebounds per game and 38th with 142 free throws made. Iriafen's other national honors include the Wade Watch List, Naismith Trophy Watch List, Wooden Award Watch List, and is a repeat finalist for the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year award.
Three of the 15 members of the Academic All-America® Division I women’s basketball teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The six members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.72, with the entire Division I team holding a collective average GPA of 3.79.
Four student-athletes were repeat selection on the Academic All-America® Division I team.
Raegan Beers of the University of Oklahoma and
Yvonne Ejim of Gonzaga University earned second team honors last season, while
Morgan Maly of Creighton University earned third team honors.
Lauren Ross of Purdue Fort Wayne was a third team honoree during the 2022-23 season.
| FIRST TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Sarah Ashlee Barker |
University of Alabama |
Gr. |
3.63/3.75 |
Sport Management |
| Raegan Beers (2) |
University of Oklahoma |
So. |
3.51 |
Multidisciplinary Studies |
| Katie Dinnebier |
Drake University |
Sr. |
3.74 |
Pharmacy |
| Kiki Iriafen |
USC |
Sr. |
3.52/3.54 |
Entrepreneurship & Innovation (G) |
| Peyton McDaniel |
James Madison University |
R-Jr. |
3.96/4.00 |
Adult Education & Human Resource Development |
| Kiki Rice |
UCLA |
Jr. |
3.85 |
Education |
| SECOND TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Kelsey Rees |
Oregon State |
Gr. |
3.97/3.93 |
Bioengineering |
| Morgan Maly (3) |
Creighton University |
Sr. |
3.93 |
Exercise Science |
| Lauren Ross (6) |
Purdue Fort Wayne |
Gr. |
4.00/4.00 |
Organizational Leadership |
| Serena Sundell |
Kansas State |
Sr. |
3.84/3.83 |
Business Administration (G) |
| Haleigh Timmer |
South Dakota State University |
Jr. |
4.00 |
Mathematics & Data Science Specialization |
| THIRD TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Yvonne Ejim (2) |
Gonzaga University |
Sr. |
3.60 |
Human Physiology |
| Emily Ryan |
Iowa State University |
Sr. |
3.56 |
Kinesiology and Health |
| Addy Brown |
Iowa State University |
So. |
3.79 |
Business Management |
| Amaya Battle |
University of Minnesota |
Jr. |
3.73 |
Sociology |
(2) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(3) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(6) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2022-23
NCAA Division II
Grace Foster has been named the Academic All-America® of the Year for Division II after being named to the first team last season. The senior forward carries a perfect 4.0 GPA while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. A native of Childress, Texas, Foster is a three-time WBCA All-America selection. She was the 2024-25 Lone Star Conference Most Valuable Player and Academic Player of the Year after leading the Lady Chaparrals to a 32-4 record an appearance in the Elite Eight. She finished the year averaging 20.1 points per game, which ranks 11th nationally. She ranks fourth nationally with 233 field goals made while shooting 48.9% from the field. From beyond the arc, Foster ranks ninth nationally shooting 42.6% and at the free-throw line she made 89.4%, which ranked seventh nationally. Her 723 points and 177 free throws made both set a new single-season program record, while her 2,018 career points are also a program record.
The Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024-25 Division II Academic All-America® program.
Six of the 16 members of the Academic All-America® Division II women’s basketball teams sustain an unblemished 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The five members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.86, with the entire Division II team maintaining a collective average GPA of 3.91.
Five other student-athletes joined Foster as repeat selections on the Academic All-America® Division II team,
Sage Hawley (Harding University),
Ashley Ingram (Texas Woman's University),
Audrey Ramsey (University of Tampa),
Olivia Reed Thune (Colorado Mesa University) and
Emilee Weakley (Frostburg State). Ramsey becomes a three-time honoree having earned third team honors in 2022-23.
| FIRST TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Rylie Bisballe |
Grand Valley State University |
R-Sr. |
3.71 |
Accounting |
| Grace Foster (1) |
Lubbock Christian University |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Criminal Justice |
| Olivia Reed Thyne (3) |
Colorado Mesa University |
Jr. |
3.93 |
Fitness & Health Promotion |
| Bri Stoltzman |
Southwest Minnesota State University |
Sr. |
3.80 |
Exercise Science |
| Emilee Weakley (2) |
Frostburg State |
Sr. |
3.89 |
Business Administration |
| SECOND TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Leslie Huffman |
Fairmont State University |
Jr. |
3.96 |
Nursing |
| Ashley Ingram (1) |
Texas Woman's University |
Sr. |
3.87 |
Kinesiology & Pre-Occupational Therapy |
| Mia Kalich |
Seton Hill |
So. |
4.00 |
Engineering Mathematics |
| Audrey Ramsey (2)(6) |
University of Tampa |
Gr. |
4.00/3.70 |
Business Administration (U) / Cybersecurity (G) |
| Katie Wagner DeGarmo |
Fort Hays State University |
Gr. |
3.87/4.00 |
Business Administration |
| Lili Wilken |
The University of Alabama in Huntsville |
Jr. |
3.98 |
Chemistry |
| THIRD TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Lydia Haack |
Concordia-St. Paul |
Jr. |
3.98 |
Biology |
| Sage Hawley (5) |
Harding University |
Gr. |
3.79 |
Information Systems |
| Zoe Miller |
Ashland University |
Sr. |
3.89 |
Psychology |
| Caitlynn Daniels |
Drury University |
Gr. |
4.00/4.00 |
Communications |
| Kamryn Wadsworth |
University of Sioux Falls |
So. |
4.00 |
Elementary Education |
(1) - 1st team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(2) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(3) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(5) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2022-23
(6) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2022-23
NCAA Division III
Natalie Bruns becomes the second player to repeat as the Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for Division III. The graduate student from St. Louis, Missouri holds a 4.0 GPA as she pursues her master’s degree in cybersecurity, after earning her undergraduate degree also in business & technology management with a 3.9 GPA. The forward has led NYU to back-to-back national championships and a pair of perfect 31-0 seasons. At the Division III Final Four she earned the NCAA Elite 90 Award. Most recently she was named the Jostens Trophy winner to go along with being named the WBCA Division III Player of the Year, the D3hoops.com Player of the Year, and the University Athletic Association Player of the Year. Bruns finished the year averaging 17.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. Her 91 blocks ranked second in the nation, the 163 assists were third, and her 112 steals were fifth. She also ranked eighth in the county in field goal percentage, shooting 58.8 percent.
The Division III Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structure to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024-25 Division III Academic All-America® program.
Three of the 15 members of the Academic All-America® Division III women’s basketball teams claim a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The five members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.89, with the entire Division III team retaining a collective average GPA of 3.85.
Joining Bruns as repeat selections on the Academic All-America® Division III team are
Lauren Huber (Illinois Wesleyan University),
Olivia Rangel (Carroll University),
Kasey Schipfer (Ohio Wesleyan University), and
Zoë Tomlinson (Colorado College).
| FIRST TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Natalie Bruns (1)(6) |
New York University |
Gr. |
3.90/4.00 |
Business & Technology Management/Cybersecurity |
| Kacie Carollo |
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater |
Sr. |
3.88 |
Business |
| Lauren Huber (2) |
Illinois Wesleyan University |
Sr. |
3.69 |
Biology |
| Kasey Schipfer (1) |
Ohio Wesleyan University |
Gr. |
3.92 |
Exercise Science & Psychology |
| Zoë Tomlinson (2) |
Colorado College |
Sr. |
3.94 |
Mathematical Economics |
| SECOND TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Michaela O'Neil |
Johns Hopkins University |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Molecular & Cellular Biology |
| Catherine Or |
Carnegie Mellon University |
Sr. |
3.97 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Belle Pellecchia |
New York University |
Sr. |
3.70 |
Journalism & Environmental Studies |
| Cam Lexow |
Gallaudet University |
So. |
4.00/4.00 |
Psychology |
| Alexa Mustafaj |
Middlebury College |
Sr. |
3.77 |
Sociology |
| THIRD TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Olivia Rangel (3) |
Carroll University |
Sr. |
3.68 |
Communications & Spanish |
| Kaci Kranson |
University of Scranton |
Jr. |
3.60 |
Kinesiology |
| Mallory Powers |
Illinois Wesleyan University |
Sr. |
3.53 |
Kinesiology & Allied Health |
| Nina Branchizio |
The College of New Jersey |
Sr. |
3.97 |
Speech Pathology & Audiology |
| Tova Gelb |
Vassar College |
Sr. |
3.90 |
Biology |
(1) - 1st team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(2) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(3) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(6) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2022-23
NAIA
A guard from Winamac, Indiana,
Lilli Frasure has been named the Academic All-America® of the Year for NAIA after also earning first team honors as season ago. The senior maintains a 3.98 GPA while pursuing her degree in elementary education. She led Indiana Wesleyan to an NAIA Runner-Up finish and a 34-3 record. She was named an NAIA All-American First Team honoree for the second consecutive season after averaging 18.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. Her 88 steals ranked 17th in the nation. She is a four-time All-Crossroads League First Team selection.
The NAIA Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NAIA national governance structure to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024-25 NAIA Academic All-America® program.
Four of the 11 members of the Academic All-America® NAIA women’s basketball teams maintain an impeccable 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The five members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.92, with the entire NAIA team carrying a collective average GPA of 3.92.
Frasure’s IWU teammate
Jessica Carrothers joins her as a repeat selection on the Academic All-America® NAIA team along with
Mak Hatcliff (Doane University).
Molly Schany (Northwestern College) and
Jaycie Jenkins (Milligan University) also garnered their second Academic All-America® honors, with Schany earning second team accolades in 2022-23 and Jenkins being named to the second team in 2021-22.
| FIRST TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Morgan Baird |
Southern Oregon University |
Sr. |
3.96/4.00 |
Business Administration (G) |
| Jessica Carrothers (2) |
Indiana University Northwest |
Jr. |
3.84 |
Criminal Justice |
| Lilli Frasure (1) |
Indiana Wesleyan University |
Sr. |
3.98 |
Elementary Education |
| Kassie Monday |
University of the Cumberlands |
Gr. |
3.80/4.00 |
Exercise & Sport Science |
| Macy Sievers |
Dordt University |
Jr. |
3.83 |
Education |
| SECOND TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Korynn Clason |
Sterling College |
Sr. |
3.84 |
Pre-Physical Therapy |
| Mak Hatcliff (2) |
Doane University |
Sr. |
3.84 |
Pre-Medicine |
| Jaycie Jenkins (8) |
Milligan University |
Gr. |
4.00/4.00 |
Education |
| Molly Schany (5) |
Northwestern College |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Physical Education |
| Janie Van Donge |
Dordt University |
Sr. |
3.80 |
Exercise Science |
| Tabor Teel |
Dakota State (S.D.) |
Jr. |
3.93 |
Business |
(1) - 1st team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(2) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(5) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2022-23
(8) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2021-22
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jeff Schwartz, Retired, North Dakota State University | Academic All-America® Co-Director for Publicity
Schwartzy2@yahoo.com | (701) 793-0538
Brian Alden, University of South Carolina | Academic All-America® Coordinator of Publicity
aldenb@mailbox.sc.edu | (803) 777-1516