Markowski Earns Spot on Wooden Watch List

Lincoln - Nebraska's Alexis Markowski was named to the preseason women's top 50 watch list for the Los Angeles Athletic Club John R. Wooden Award presented by Principal on Thursday, Nov. 7.

Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is made up of 50 student-athletes who are early front-runners for one of the most prestigious honors in college basketball - the Wooden Award All-America Team and Most Outstanding Player Award.

Markowski, a senior from Lincoln, Neb., is a three-time All-Big Ten selection who earned first-team all-conference honors a year ago after averaging team bests of 15.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game to help Nebraska advance to the NCAA Tournament second round after running to the Big Ten Championship Game.

A three-time Naismith Trophy and Lisa Leslie Award candidate, Markowski already owns Nebraska's all-time record for double-doubles with 41, after opening the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds in just 21 minutes in an 88-48 win over Omaha on Nov. 4. Her double-double against the Mavericks pushed her past former Nebraska first-team All-Americans Kelsey Griffin (2006-10) and Jordan Hooper (2011-14).

Markowski's 2023-24 season included a monster 20-point, 21-rebound performance in a road win at Purdue that marked just the fifth 20-20 effort in Husker history. She added 23 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the Big Ten Championship Game on her way to earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team.

The three-time first-team preseason All-Big Ten selection was the 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year before earning second-team All-Big Ten honors as a freshman in 2021-22 and as a sophomore in 2022-23.

Markowski, who is one of 11 Big Ten Conference players on the preseason Wooden Award Watch List, enters Saturday's game with Southeastern Louisiana 33 rebounds shy of becoming just the sixth player in Nebraska history to achieve 1,000 career rebounds.

Tip-off between the Huskers and SLU at Pinnacle Bank Arena is set for 1 p.m. (CT) with tickets available now at Huskers.com.

John R. Wooden Award® Women’s Preseason Top 50
Georgia Amoore - Kentucky, Gr.
Sarah Andrews - Baylor, Sr.
Sarah Ashlee Barker - Alabama, Sr.
Raegan Beers - Oklahoma, Jr.
Lauren Betts - UCLA, Jr.
Madison Booker - Texas, So.
Paige Bueckers - UConn, Sr. 
Haley Cavinder - Miami, Gr.
Sonia Citron - Notre Dame, Sr.
Audi Crooks - Iowa State, Fr.
KK Deans - Ole Miss, Sr.
Katie Dinnebier - Drake, Sr.
Yvonne Ejim - Gonzaga, Sr.
Frida Formann - Colorado, Sr.
Azzi Fudd - UConn, Sr.
MiLaysia Fulwiley - South Carolina, So.
Rori Harmon - Texas, Sr.
Hannah Hidalgo - Notre Dame, Jr.
Kiki Iriafen - USC, Jr.
Aziaha James - NC State, So.
Flau’jae Johnson - LSU, So.
Deja Kelly - Oregon, Sr.
Gianna Kneepkens - Utah, Jr.
Ta'Niya Latson - Florida State, Fr.
Ayoka Lee - Kansas State, Sr.
Charlisse Leger-Walker - UCLA, So.
Darianna Littlepage Buggs - Baylor, So.
Alexis Markowski - Nebraska, Sr.
Cotie McMahon - Ohio State, Sr.
Olivia Miles - Notre Dame, Sr.
Aneesah Morrow - LSU, Jr.
Lucy Olsen - Iowa, Sr.
Te-Hina Paopao - South Carolina, Sr.
Ajae Petty - Ohio State, Sr.
Lalia Phelia - Texas, So.
JJ Quinerly - West Virginia, Jr.
Kiki Rice - UCLA, So.
Reigan Richardson - Duke, Jr.
Saniya Rivers - NC State, Sr.
Emily Ryan - Iowa State, Sr.
Madison Scott - Ole Miss, Sr.
Shyanne Sellers - Maryland, Jr.
Hannah Stuelke - Iowa, Jr.
Alyssa Ustby - North Carolina, Sr.
Hailey Van Lith - TCU, Jr.
Skylar Vann - Oklahoma, Jr.
Talia von Oehlhoffen - USC, Jr.
JuJu Watkins - # USC JR
Maddy Westbeld - Notre Dame, So.
Mikaylah Williams - LSU, Jr.