Yes, with an all-No. 1 seed Final Four on deck for Friday, there’s plenty to be excited for the right now in women’s college basketball.
And yet, it’s also not too soon to be dreaming about what’s next, as Tuesday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) 24 players who hope to be preparing for the 2027 Final Four this time next year will be take the court for the 2026 McDonald’s All American game.
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Monday’s Sprite Jam Fest gave Kentucky and Tennessee fans, in particular, reasons to get excited. Emily McDonald, a 6-foot-0 guard who will suit up for the Big Blue Nation next season, won the 3-point contest, while Oliviyah Edwards’ skills competition victory, in addition to her participation in the dunk contest, should have inspired some needed smiles on Rocky Top.
McDonald will further showcase her sharpshooting for the East team on Tuesday, while Edwards will aim to throw down an in-game dunk for the the West squad.
Here’s a look at the rest of the future stars who will be competing for the East and West, with the school they’ve committed to, ESPN SportCenter NEXT 100 ranking and primary position also listed.
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2026 McDonald’s All American East Roster
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Autumn Fleary (Duke, No. 12, point guard)
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Saniyah Hall (USC, No. 1, wing)
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Kate Harping (UNC, No. 4, guard)
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Jordyn Jackson (Maryland, No. 7, wing)
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Olivia Jones (Vanderbilt, No. 14, guard)
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Lola Lampley (LSU, No. 29, forward)
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Jenica Lewis (Notre Dame, No. 24, guard)
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Emily McDonald (Kentucky, No. 23, guard)
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Addison Nyemchek (Indiana, No. 28, wing)
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Savvy Swords (Kentucky, No. 19, forward)
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Olivia Vukosa (UConn, No. 3, center)
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Lilly Williams (Michigan State, No. 15, center)
No. 1-overall recruit Saniyah Hall is the headliner for the East side, even if it will be West Coasters envisioning how she will fit with Jazzy Davidson and JuJu Watkins for USC. UConn fans, however, can counter with their own big dreams, understandably infatuated with the idea of Olivia Vukosa playing alongside Sarah Strong. Duke fans, disappointed after a second-straight Elite Eight elimination, can be confident that head coach Kara Lawson has another point guard to mold, with Autumn Fleary arriving to fill the role being vacated by the graduating Taina Mair.
Whether they’re headed to your favorite college team or not, who are you excited to watch? As 10 of these 12 prospects are headed to teams that made but have now been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, who do you see being the perfect piece to push her future squad further in the 2027?
2026 McDonald’s All American West Roster
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Jacy Abii (Notre Dame, No. 9, forward)
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Addison Bjorn (Texas, No. 10, wing)
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Cydnee Bryant (Kansas, No. 33, forward)
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Brihanna Crittendon (Texas, No. 8, forward)
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Oliviyah Edwards (Tennessee, No. 2, forward)
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Bella Flemmings (Duke, No. 16, guard)
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Maddyn Greenway (Kentucky, No. 13, point guard)
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Trinity Jones (Clemson, No. 11, wing)
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Ashlyn Koupal (Nebraska, No. 22, forward)
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Jerzy Robinson (South Carolina, No. 5, guard)
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Aaliah Spaight (Texas, No. 20, point guard)
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McKenna Woliczko (Iowa, No. 6, forward)
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Life is good for Longhorn fans, as they can bide their time until the Final Four by taking a look into the future and checking out how Addison Bjorn, Brihanna Crittendon and Aaliah Spaight complement each other. South Carolina’s FAMs, likewise, can revel in the now and the next as they root for Jerzy Robinson. However, the rich aren’t just getting richer, as Kansas, Nebraska and Clemson can celebrate their programs’ upward trajectory as they evaluate Cydnee Bryant, Ashlyn Koupal and Trinity Jones, respectively.
Obviously, every prospect should commit to the program that is the best fit for her. However, as a fan, do you like to see top players take their talents to non-traditional powers? Or, do you want to see the best players play with best, even if that results in less parity and more powerhouses in women’s college basketball?
