Photo by: Tanay Eedarapalli | Louisville Athletics
October 28, 2026 | Women's Basketball
The award recognizes the top small forward in the country
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — University of Louisville women's basketball junior forward Mackenly Randolph was named to the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List, the Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced Wednesday afternoon. Randolph is one of 20 players on the initial watch list that recognizes the top small forward in all of women's college basketball.
Randolph joins Zamareya Jones and Tajianna Roberts as Cardinals named to positional watch lists so far this season. Jones was on the Lieberman Award Watch List and Roberts was on the Drysdale Award Watch List.
Randolph was a top five scorer for the Cardinals last season with 8.5 points per game. The Cardinals return four of their five top scorers from last year's squad that advanced to the Sweet 16. Randolph's play elevated in the postseason as she had a career high 20 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Vermont. In the second round win over Alabama, Randolph tallied a career-high 13 rebounds.
She had 11+ rebounds in each of the first two NCAA Tournament games last season. She was the third player in program history to have 11 or more rebounds in back-to-back NCAA Tournament games, joining Myisha Hines-Allen and Angel McCoughtry.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Cheryl Miller Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where the winner will be selected. The selection committee for the Cheryl Miller Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2027 Miller Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward), and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).
For more information on the 2027 Cheryl Miller Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #MillerAward on X and Instagram.
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981, or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors worldwide. The Hall of Fame museum is home to nearly 500 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Welcoming close to 200,000 visitors each year, the museum invites fans to learn about the game, experience interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates more than 100 high school and collegiate games annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com or follow @hoophallu.
Basketball Hall of Fame Media Contact
Nicole Schuermann, Position Sports // mediarelations@positionsports.com
Randolph joins Zamareya Jones and Tajianna Roberts as Cardinals named to positional watch lists so far this season. Jones was on the Lieberman Award Watch List and Roberts was on the Drysdale Award Watch List.
Randolph was a top five scorer for the Cardinals last season with 8.5 points per game. The Cardinals return four of their five top scorers from last year's squad that advanced to the Sweet 16. Randolph's play elevated in the postseason as she had a career high 20 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Vermont. In the second round win over Alabama, Randolph tallied a career-high 13 rebounds.
She had 11+ rebounds in each of the first two NCAA Tournament games last season. She was the third player in program history to have 11 or more rebounds in back-to-back NCAA Tournament games, joining Myisha Hines-Allen and Angel McCoughtry.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Cheryl Miller Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where the winner will be selected. The selection committee for the Cheryl Miller Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2027 Miller Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward), and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).
For more information on the 2027 Cheryl Miller Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #MillerAward on X and Instagram.
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981, or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors worldwide. The Hall of Fame museum is home to nearly 500 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Welcoming close to 200,000 visitors each year, the museum invites fans to learn about the game, experience interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates more than 100 high school and collegiate games annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com or follow @hoophallu.
Basketball Hall of Fame Media Contact
Nicole Schuermann, Position Sports // mediarelations@positionsports.com
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballFriday, October 30
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