Madison Francis Named To 2026 Naismith Defensive Player Of The Year Watchlist
January 27, 2026 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE – Madison Francis, one of the nation's most elite defenders, was named to the 2026 Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist. Francis is one of 25 student-athletes and one of four freshmen across the nation to be recognized.
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On the defensive side of the ball, Francis is averaging 3.0 blocks and 1.5 steals this season, making her the only player in the country to do so. Francis also collects 4.1 defensive rebounds per game. The Southeastern Conference's block leader has collected four games this season with six or more blocks, making her the only player in the nation to do such.
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In her collegiate debut, Francis rejected six shots against Davidson, marking the first performance of six or more blocks of the season. Francis swatted seven shot attempts against Charlotte on December 7, setting a new career high. Francis has collected three or more blocks in 12 different games this year, the third-most of any player in the nation and the most of any freshman across the country.
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Francis also excels at swiping the ball away from opponents, as she has collected 1.5 steals per game. Against Alabama, Francis collected a career-high seven steals, which makes her the only player in the nation to have collected both seven blocks and seven steals in different games this year.
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Visit HailState.com for the latest news and information on women's basketball. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateWBK' on X, Facebook and Instagram.Â
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On the defensive side of the ball, Francis is averaging 3.0 blocks and 1.5 steals this season, making her the only player in the country to do so. Francis also collects 4.1 defensive rebounds per game. The Southeastern Conference's block leader has collected four games this season with six or more blocks, making her the only player in the nation to do such.
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In her collegiate debut, Francis rejected six shots against Davidson, marking the first performance of six or more blocks of the season. Francis swatted seven shot attempts against Charlotte on December 7, setting a new career high. Francis has collected three or more blocks in 12 different games this year, the third-most of any player in the nation and the most of any freshman across the country.
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Francis also excels at swiping the ball away from opponents, as she has collected 1.5 steals per game. Against Alabama, Francis collected a career-high seven steals, which makes her the only player in the nation to have collected both seven blocks and seven steals in different games this year.
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Visit HailState.com for the latest news and information on women's basketball. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateWBK' on X, Facebook and Instagram.Â
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Players Mentioned
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