Horizon League Releases 2025-26 #HLWBB All-League Awards

March 02

Sa'Mone Winters

INDIANAPOLIS (March 2, 2026) – The Horizon League released our 2025-26 #HLWBB awards on Monday, with the selections based on voting by the League’s head coaches.

Green Bay’s Jenna Guyer was named as the Horizon League Player of the Year while her coach, Kayla Karius, earned Coach of the Year honors. Izabella Zingaro of Cleveland State was named the League’s Newcomer of the Year.

Youngstown State’s Sophia Gregory was voted as the Defensive Player of the Year and fellow Penguin Paulina Hernandez won Sixth Player of the Year. Oakland’s Makenzie Luehring collected the Freshman of the Year award while Lauren Scott of Wright State was selected for the Sportsmanship Award.

Dig Deeper:

Guyer averaged 15.2 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 45.4% from the field in League play this season.
- The Phoenix forward/guard racked up five 20-point games against League opponents.
Karius wins Coach of the Year after leading the Phoenix to an 17-3 record in League play that started with 15 consecutive wins.
In Zingaro’s first season at Cleveland State, she led the League in scoring, averaging 18.45 per #HLWBB game while shooting 59.4% from the field, which also leads the League.
- Zingaro ranked among League leaders in rebounds with 8.05 per contest against League opponents.
- Vikings graduate center also collected nine 20-point games in #HLWBB.
Gregory anchored a Penguin defense that boasted the League’s best defense in terms of scoring defense (57.15 points/game) and opponent field-goal percentage (36.0%).
- The sophomore forward also led the League in rebounding averaging 9.2 per #HLWBB game.
Hernandez played in every League game this season for Youngstown State, averaging a League-leading 1.7 blocks per contest in her reserve role.
Luehring played a major role for the Golden Grizzlies this season, averaging the second-most points (18.2) and leading the team in assists (4.05) and three points made (2.3) per #HLWBB contest.
- The first-year forward also logged two 30-point games and nine 20-point games against League opponents.
The Sportsmanship Award recognizes student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Sportsmanship is defined as behavior exhibited during competition by student-athletes based on values, respect and integrity.
- Scott is described by her coach, Kari Hoffman, as someone who “always does the right thing, competes the right way and has a spirit that will always rise above the moment.”
The 2026 Barbasol #HLWBB Championship begins with our Play-In on Monday.
- Milwaukee hosts Detroit Mercy at 8 p.m. ET.
The First Round will follow with five contests on Wednesday, March 4.
The 2026 Barbasol Horizon League Basketball Championships will culminate with second round, semifinal and championship games at the Corteva Coliseum in Indy on March 8-10.
Every game of the championship will be streamed on ESPN networks with the play-in, first round, second round and semifinal games streamed on ESPN+.
For complete championship information, visit Barbasol #HLWBB Championship Central.

2025-26 Horizon League Women’s Basketball All-League Awards

Player of the Year: Jenna Guyer, Green Bay

Coach of the Year: Kayla Karius, Green Bay

Newcomer of the Year: Izabella Zingaro, Cleveland State

Freshman of the Year: Makenzie Luehring, Oakland

Defensive Player of the Year: Sophia Gregory, Youngstown State

Sixth Player of the Year: Paulina Hernandez, Youngstown State

Sportsmanship Award: Lauren Scott, Wright State

All-League First Team
Izabella Zingaro, Cleveland State
Colbi Maples, Cleveland State
Jenna Guyer, Green Bay
Makenzie Luehring, Oakland
Alana Nelson, Purdue Fort Wayne

All-League Second Team
Maddy Skorupski, Green Bay
Karina Bystry, Northern Kentucky
Breezie Williams, Wright State
Casey Santoro, Youngstown State
Sophia Gregory, Youngstown State

All-League Third Team
Meghan Schultz, Green Bay
Nevaeh Foster, IU Indy
Jorey Buwalda, Milwaukee
Aislin Malcolm, RMU
Myriam Traore, RMU

All-Freshman Team
Maddie Moody, Northern Kentucky
Karina Bystry, Northern Kentucky
Makenzie Luehring, Oakland
Rylee Bess, Purdue Fort Wayne
Sarah Baker, Youngstown State

All-Defensive Team
Jada Leonard, Cleveland State
Jenna Guyer, Green Bay
Jordan Reid, Purdue Fort Wayne
Eva Levingston, RMU
Sophia Gregory, Youngstown State

Sportsmanship Award Finalists
Colbi Maples, Cleveland State
Maya Anderson, Detroit Mercy
Kamy Peppler, Green Bay
Gace Lomen, Milwaukee
Lianna Baxter, Oakland
Jordan Reid, Purdue Fort Wayne
Bailey Kuhns, RMU
Lauren Scott, Wright State*
Sophia Gregory, Youngstown State