DePaul University Athletics
Kate Novik, Meg Newman Earn BIG EAST Postseason Accolades
3/5/2026 10:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Novik named All-BIG EAST Second Team, Newman earns Sportsmanship Award
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – DePaul's Kate Novik and Meg Newman were recognized by BIG EAST coaches on Thursday as the conference announced its postseason awards prior to the 2026 Women's Basketball Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena. Novik collected All-BIG EAST Second Team honors, while Newman earned the league's Sportsmanship Award.
Major awards and All-BIG EAST teams were selected by a vote of the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Novik has made an immediate impact in her first season with the Blue Demons, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and blocks. The junior guard has scored in double figures in 21 games this season and is averaging 12.1 points per game to go with 6.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. She owns five double-doubles on the 2025–26 campaign and is the lone BIG EAST player to record a triple-double this season. The Grodno, Belarus, native was named to the conference's weekly honor roll three times and recently surpassed 1,000 points in her collegiate career on Feb. 22.
Newman becomes the eighth Blue Demon to claim the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award and the first since the 2019–20 season. The graduate forward has shown exemplary leadership in her pair of seasons at DePaul, consistently championing her peers in their on- and off-court endeavors. Alongside her teammates, Newman has served the greater Chicago community by assembling blankets for Marillac St. Vincent Family Services, taking part in community cleanup initiatives in partnership with Molson Coors and their "Cheers to Our Neighborhood" program, and leading a youth clinic with Girls in the Game. The Indianapolis, Ind., native earned a Political Science degree in June and is currently pursuing a master's degree in legal studies and international law.
The Blue Demons boast 52 All-BIG EAST honorees since joining the league prior to the 2005–06 season. Newman joins Jenna Rubino (2007), Sam Quigley (2011), Deanna Ortiz (2012), Anna Martin (2013), Lauren Prochaska (2018), Ashton Millender (2019) and Kelly Campbell (2020) as DePaul's Sportsmanship Award recipients.
Connecticut swept the top three individual awards, with Sarah Strong earning Player of the Year honors while Blanca Quinonez was tabbed Freshman of the Year. Geno Auriemma was named Coach of the Year for the 14th time in his career.
DePaul (8–23, 5–15) opens the 2026 BIG EAST Tournament Friday, March 6, with a first-round matchup against Providence at Mohegan Sun Arena. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. CT with coverage on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.
2026 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Postseason Awards
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F*
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year: Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, Fr., F
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year: Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F
BIG EAST Most Improved Player: Brynn McCurry, Villanova, Jr., F
BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award: Meg Newman, DePaul, R-Sr., F
BIG EAST Sixth Woman of the Year: Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, Fr., F
BIG EAST Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemma, UConn
BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Azzi Fudd, UConn, Gr., G
First Team
KK Arnold, UConn, Jr., G
Azzi Fudd, UConn, Gr., G*
Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F*
Ava Zediker, Creighton, Fr., G*
Skylar Forbes, Marquette, Jr., F*
Halle Vice, Marquette, Jr., G*
Sabou Gueye, Providence, Gr., G*
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Jr., G*
Mariana Valenzuela, Seton Hall, Sr., F*
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, So., G*
Second Team^
Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, Fr., F
Kate Novik, DePaul, Jr., G
Lee Volker, Marquette, Gr., G
Brooke Moore, St. John's, Jr., G
Brynn McCurry, Villanova, Jr., F
Mariyah Noel, Xavier, Jr., G
Honorable Mention
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Jr., G
Grace Boffeli, Creighton, Gr., F
Sa'Mya Wyatt, St. John's, So., F
All-Defensive Team
KK Arnold, UConn, Jr., G
Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F
Skylar Forbes, Marquette, Jr., F
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Jr., G
Kennedy Henry, Villanova, Fr., G
All-Freshman Team
Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, Fr., F*
Ava Zediker, Creighton, Fr., G*
Neleigh Gessert, Creighton, Fr., G*
Zahara Bishop, Seton Hall, Fr., G
Kennedy Henry, Villanova, Fr., G*
* Unanimous selection
^ Due to a tie in voting, there are six players on the second-team
Major awards and All-BIG EAST teams were selected by a vote of the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Novik has made an immediate impact in her first season with the Blue Demons, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and blocks. The junior guard has scored in double figures in 21 games this season and is averaging 12.1 points per game to go with 6.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. She owns five double-doubles on the 2025–26 campaign and is the lone BIG EAST player to record a triple-double this season. The Grodno, Belarus, native was named to the conference's weekly honor roll three times and recently surpassed 1,000 points in her collegiate career on Feb. 22.
Newman becomes the eighth Blue Demon to claim the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award and the first since the 2019–20 season. The graduate forward has shown exemplary leadership in her pair of seasons at DePaul, consistently championing her peers in their on- and off-court endeavors. Alongside her teammates, Newman has served the greater Chicago community by assembling blankets for Marillac St. Vincent Family Services, taking part in community cleanup initiatives in partnership with Molson Coors and their "Cheers to Our Neighborhood" program, and leading a youth clinic with Girls in the Game. The Indianapolis, Ind., native earned a Political Science degree in June and is currently pursuing a master's degree in legal studies and international law.
The Blue Demons boast 52 All-BIG EAST honorees since joining the league prior to the 2005–06 season. Newman joins Jenna Rubino (2007), Sam Quigley (2011), Deanna Ortiz (2012), Anna Martin (2013), Lauren Prochaska (2018), Ashton Millender (2019) and Kelly Campbell (2020) as DePaul's Sportsmanship Award recipients.
Connecticut swept the top three individual awards, with Sarah Strong earning Player of the Year honors while Blanca Quinonez was tabbed Freshman of the Year. Geno Auriemma was named Coach of the Year for the 14th time in his career.
DePaul (8–23, 5–15) opens the 2026 BIG EAST Tournament Friday, March 6, with a first-round matchup against Providence at Mohegan Sun Arena. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. CT with coverage on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.
2026 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Postseason Awards
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F*
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year: Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, Fr., F
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year: Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F
BIG EAST Most Improved Player: Brynn McCurry, Villanova, Jr., F
BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award: Meg Newman, DePaul, R-Sr., F
BIG EAST Sixth Woman of the Year: Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, Fr., F
BIG EAST Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemma, UConn
BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Azzi Fudd, UConn, Gr., G
First Team
KK Arnold, UConn, Jr., G
Azzi Fudd, UConn, Gr., G*
Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F*
Ava Zediker, Creighton, Fr., G*
Skylar Forbes, Marquette, Jr., F*
Halle Vice, Marquette, Jr., G*
Sabou Gueye, Providence, Gr., G*
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Jr., G*
Mariana Valenzuela, Seton Hall, Sr., F*
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, So., G*
Second Team^
Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, Fr., F
Kate Novik, DePaul, Jr., G
Lee Volker, Marquette, Gr., G
Brooke Moore, St. John's, Jr., G
Brynn McCurry, Villanova, Jr., F
Mariyah Noel, Xavier, Jr., G
Honorable Mention
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Jr., G
Grace Boffeli, Creighton, Gr., F
Sa'Mya Wyatt, St. John's, So., F
All-Defensive Team
KK Arnold, UConn, Jr., G
Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F
Skylar Forbes, Marquette, Jr., F
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Jr., G
Kennedy Henry, Villanova, Fr., G
All-Freshman Team
Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, Fr., F*
Ava Zediker, Creighton, Fr., G*
Neleigh Gessert, Creighton, Fr., G*
Zahara Bishop, Seton Hall, Fr., G
Kennedy Henry, Villanova, Fr., G*
* Unanimous selection
^ Due to a tie in voting, there are six players on the second-team
Players Mentioned
F
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