Basketball | 3/25/2026 3:48:00 PM
ATLANTA (March 25, 2026) - Texas Woman's basketball earned three Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) national honors Wednesday.
For the third straight season, head coach Beth Jillson was named a WBCA Coach of the Year finalist. Jillson led the Pioneers to their third consecutive 30-win season, as well as their fourth straight Lone Star Conference (LSC) regular-season title and third consecutive LSC Tournament title. Texas Woman's also advanced to its third straight NCAA South Central Regional final (Sweet 16) and tied the program record for fewest losses in a season with two. Jillson was named the LSC Noel Johnson Coach of the Year after guiding the Pioneers to a perfect 20-0 conference record.
Additionally, for the first time in their careers, Gabby Elliott and Averee Kleinhans were named WBCA All-Americans, earning honorable mention recognition.
Elliott averaged 16.0 points per game on 54.1% shooting while leading the conference with 11.6 rebounds per game and adding 1.5 blocks per contest. She recorded 16 double-doubles and led the LSC with 230 defensive rebounds. Elliott also earned nine LSC Player of the Week honors, the most in the conference this season.
The senior forward earned her first Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-South Central Region honor, receiving first-team recognition. Elliott was also named the 2025-26 LSC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, becoming just the second Pioneer in program history to earn Player of the Year honors and the first to sweep the conference's three major individual awards in the same season. She added First Team All-LSC honors and was selected to the LSC All-Defensive Team.
Kleinhans averaged 16.6 points per game (fourth in the LSC) on 44.3% shooting. She ranked among the conference leaders in assists per game, free throw percentage and 3-pointers per game. Kleinhans recorded 24 double-digit scoring games in 27 appearances this season and earned three LSC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
The senior guard was named to the All-LSC First Team and the NCAA South Central Region All-Tournament Team. She also earned WBCA All-America Honorable Mention honors and was selected to the D2CCA All-South Central Region Second Team.
"I am very honored to be named among the best coaches in Division II," Texas Woman's head coach Beth Jillson said. "This recognition is a testament to the work our team puts in every day and the dedication of our coaching staff. I am especially proud of Gabby and Averee for earning All-America honors. Gabby's selection speaks to her growth and determination — to go from not being recognized last season to becoming an All-American this year is truly special. Averee's versatility was invaluable to our success. She played with great confidence, stepped up in big moments and showed exactly why she was such a key part of this team."
The WBCA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year, Player of the Year and Coaches' All-America Team are selected by the WBCA NCAA Division II Awards Committee from coaches and student-athletes nominated by WBCA member coaches.
-PIONEERS-
