By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications
PORTLAND, Ore. – The top-performing students within Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s basketball were recognized on Friday, with the announcement of the 2025-26 academic all-conference team presented by Barnes & Noble College.
In total, 49 student-athletes earned a spot on the academic all-conference team, including four seniors who claimed the distinction for the third time in their careers.
Elaina Mack of Alaska Anchorage (3.43 GPA, kinesiology/applied tech leadership),
Asher Cai of Central Washington (3.89 GPA, exercise science),
Kaitlin Grossman of Montana State Billings (3.81 GPA, nursing) and
Kiana Rios of Saint Martin’s (3.64 GPA, education) were the lone players to earn academic honors for the third year in succession.
Six other players posted perfect 4.00 grade point averages, including Alaska senior
Emily Freeman (business administration), Central Washington sophomore
Emily Shaw (undeclared), Montana State Billings sophomore
Katelyn Hamilton (health administration), Northwest Nazarene senior
Sadi Clemons (psychology) and junior
Kendall Clark (English), and Saint Martin’s sophomore
Kasey Booster (biology).
Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington each had seven of their players selected, which was tied for the most among any of the conference’s 10 women’s basketball teams.
To qualify for academic all-conference, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20, must be in at least their second season competing for their team and must have competed on the court during the 2025-26 campaign.
Women’s Basketball – Academic All-GNAC – Presented by Barnes & Noble College
Total Selections: 49 | Third year: 4 | Second year: 16 | Newcomers: 29
*-2024-25 All-Academic Selection | #-2023-24 All-Academic Selection
| Name |
Academic Major |
Year |
GPA |
Hometown |
School |
| Elaina Mack*# |
Kinesiology/Applied Tech Leadership |
SR |
3.43 |
King Cove, AK |
UAA |
| Amelia Brady |
Art |
JR |
3.48 |
West Jordan, UT |
UAF |
| Emily Freeman |
Business Administration |
SR |
4.00 |
Ladera Ranch, CA |
UAF |
| Anna Nevison* |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
JR |
3.87 |
Portsmouth, United Kingdom |
UAF |
| Halle Waram |
Secondary Education |
JR |
3.41 |
Edmonds, WA |
UAF |
| Asher Cai*# |
Exercise Science |
SR |
3.89 |
Colfax, WA |
CWU |
| Annalee Coronado |
Public Health |
JR |
3.29 |
Othello, WA |
CWU |
| Jordy DeMott |
Physical Education & School Health |
SO |
3.85 |
Claremont, CA |
CWU |
| Aliyah Finch* |
Craft Brewing |
SR |
3.63 |
Chelan, WA |
CWU |
| Rylee Leishman* |
Elementary Education |
JR |
3.89 |
Ellensburg, WA |
CWU |
| Emily Shaw |
Undeclared |
SO |
4.00 |
Long Beach, CA |
CWU |
| Capri Sims* |
Business Administration |
JR |
3.57 |
Post Falls, ID |
CWU |
| Indie Browning |
Health and Human Performance |
SO |
3.98 |
Portland, OR |
MSUB |
| Avery Burkhart* |
Communication: Media Studies |
JR |
3.97 |
Bozeman, MT |
MSUB |
| Kaitlin Grossman*# |
Nursing |
SR |
3.81 |
Billings, MT |
MSUB |
| Katelyn Hamilton |
Health Administration |
SO |
4.00 |
Columbus, MT |
MSUB |
| Camryn Koester |
Health and Human Performance |
SO |
3.53 |
Cave Creek, AZ |
MSUB |
| Alli Ligocki |
English |
SO |
3.82 |
Sheridan, WY |
MSUB |
| Beaux Bruegman* |
Business Management |
JR |
3.56 |
Eugene, OR |
NNU |
| Kendall Clark* |
English |
JR |
4.00 |
Melba, ID |
NNU |
| Sadi Clemons |
Psychology |
SR |
4.00 |
El Paso, TX |
NNU |
| Chloe Deharo |
Secondary Education |
SO |
3.52 |
Spokane, WA |
NNU |
| Rylie Edlefsen |
Business Marketing |
SO |
3.98 |
Blackfoot, ID |
NNU |
| Alyssa Herber |
Business Marketing |
SO |
3.52 |
Salem, OR |
NNU |
| Hallee Schelhaas* |
Biology: Pre-Medical |
JR |
3.45 |
Nampa, ID |
NNU |
| Kasey Booster |
Biology |
SO |
4.00 |
Bend, OR |
SMU |
| Laiken Hill |
Business Administration |
SO |
3.98 |
Yakima, WA |
SMU |
| Jada Travis |
Exercise Science |
SO |
3.75 |
Tacoma, WA |
SMU |
| Avery Oaster* |
Business Administration |
SR |
3.68 |
Golden, CO |
SMU |
| Kiana Rios*# |
Education |
SR |
3.64 |
Warden, WA |
SMU |
| Jlynn Rios* |
Education |
JR |
3.50 |
Warden, WA |
SMU |
| Layne Kearns* |
Nutrition |
JR |
3.28 |
Hamilton, MT |
SPU |
| Julia Lavigne |
Computer Science |
JR |
3.97 |
Yorba Linda, CA |
SPU |
| Grace Leasure* |
Masters Data Analytics |
GR |
3.74 |
Portland, OR |
SPU |
| Grace Mertes |
Physiology |
SO |
3.74 |
Boise, ID |
SPU |
| Haylie-Anne Ohta* |
Exercise Science |
JR |
3.76 |
Kaneohe, HI |
SPU |
| Grace Turley |
Accounting |
JR |
3.65 |
Sammamish, WA |
SPU |
| Rachel Loukes* |
Psychology |
JR |
3.42 |
Prince George, BC |
SFU |
| Sophia Morton |
Business Administration |
SO |
3.49 |
Burnaby, BC |
SFU |
| Natalie Brown |
Exercise Science |
SR |
3.67 |
Spokane, WA |
WOU |
| Selai Niu |
Accounting |
SR |
3.36 |
Sacramento, CA |
WOU |
| Mya India Thomas |
Business |
SR |
3.27 |
Portland, OR |
WOU |
| Enid Vaifanua |
Business |
SR |
3.24 |
Saint George, UT |
WOU |
| Ciona Wells |
Public Health |
SO |
3.90 |
Tacoma, WA |
WOU |
| Salma Youngblood |
Exercise Science |
SR |
3.21 |
San Diego, CA |
WOU |
| Demi Dykstra* |
Elementary Education |
JR |
3.95 |
Lynden, WA |
WWU |
| Aspen Garrison* |
Kinesiology |
SR |
3.36 |
Bellingham, WA |
WWU |
| Libby Stump |
Inclusive Education |
JR |
3.70 |
Ferndale, WA |
WWU |
| Anna VanderYacht |
Inclusive Education |
SR |
3.94 |
Lynden, WA |
WWU |