October 30, 2026 | Women's Basketball
The award recognizes the top center in the country
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — University of Louisville women's basketball fifth year forward Amiya Joyner was named to the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List, the Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced Friday afternoon. Joyner is one of 20 players on the initial watch list that recognizes the top center in all of women's college basketball. Louisville is the only team in the country to have a player on each of the five positional watch lists that were announced this week.
Joyner joins Zamareya Jones, Tajianna Roberts, Mackenly Randolph and Carys Baker as Cardinals named to positional watch lists. Jones was named to the Lieberman Award Watch List, Roberts was named to the Drysdale Award Watch List, Randolph was named to the Miller Award Watch List and Baker was on the McClain Award Watch List.
Joyner joins the Cardinals after spending last season down at LSU. She played in 34 games last season and made 19 starts for the Tigers. She led the team in rebounding average with 7.5 per game and had a team-best 100 offensive rebounds on the season. Joyner had nine double-doubles on the year and brought her career total to 50. She also eclipsed the 1,500-point mark and 1,000-rebound mark during last season.
Prior to her season at LSU, Joyner spent her first three collegiate seasons at East Carolina. During her time with the Pirates, she was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in her first season. In her final season at East Carolina, she was named First Team All-AAC.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting today, Friday, October 30, via hoophallawards.com. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where the winner will be selected. The selection committees for the Lisa Leslie Award are 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 Leslie 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), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward) and the Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward).
For more information on the 2027 Lisa Leslie Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #LeslieAward 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
Joyner joins Zamareya Jones, Tajianna Roberts, Mackenly Randolph and Carys Baker as Cardinals named to positional watch lists. Jones was named to the Lieberman Award Watch List, Roberts was named to the Drysdale Award Watch List, Randolph was named to the Miller Award Watch List and Baker was on the McClain Award Watch List.
Joyner joins the Cardinals after spending last season down at LSU. She played in 34 games last season and made 19 starts for the Tigers. She led the team in rebounding average with 7.5 per game and had a team-best 100 offensive rebounds on the season. Joyner had nine double-doubles on the year and brought her career total to 50. She also eclipsed the 1,500-point mark and 1,000-rebound mark during last season.
Prior to her season at LSU, Joyner spent her first three collegiate seasons at East Carolina. During her time with the Pirates, she was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in her first season. In her final season at East Carolina, she was named First Team All-AAC.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting today, Friday, October 30, via hoophallawards.com. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where the winner will be selected. The selection committees for the Lisa Leslie Award are 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 Leslie 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), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward) and the Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward).
For more information on the 2027 Lisa Leslie Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #LeslieAward 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
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