LEXINGTON – January 27, 2026
University of Kentucky women’s basketball junior center Clara Strack is one of 25 players selected to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, it was announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Tuesday.
Through 22 games in 2025-26, the versatile center is averaging 15.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.86 apg, 2.86 bpg (fifth in the nation), 1.36 spg and has made 15 3s.
- She is the only player in the nation averaging all of those stats.
- She is the only player in the nation with at least 15.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 2.5 bpg.
- She is one of two players in the nation (and the only player in Power 4) with at least 15.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 15 3s.
- She is one of three players in the nation (and one of only two players in Power 4) with at least 15.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 1.8 apg.
- She is one of five players in the nation (and the only player in the Power 4) with at least 15.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 1.3 spg.
Strack, who was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2024-25, has 63 blocks this season, which is first in the league and second in the nation. The 6-5 center, who’s presence and defensive footwork forces opponents to take altered shots, is just 10 blocks away from tying the single-season school record, which she set as a sophomore last season on 73 blocks.
She also has 10 double-doubles this season, which ranks third in the league and 15th in the nation. She had six double-doubles through the first seven games this season, the first UK player to do that since at least 2002-03.
When Strack hits double-digit scoring and rebounding in the same game, Kentucky wins. Since the start of last season (her first season at UK) the team is 22-3 when she records a double-double.
The Buffalo, New York, native is one of the best passing centers in the nation, too. Since her first game under head coach Kenny Brooks at UK, she has dished out multiple assists in 35 of her 53 games (66.1%), including 14 of her 22 games (63.6%) in 2025-26.
The Wildcat’s season highs through 22 games include 27 points (at Buffalo), three 3FGM (2x last Florida), 16 rebounds (USC Upstate), four assists (last Central Michigan), four steals (at Miami) and seven blocks (Hofstra).
Strack is the only player in Division I to have at least 800 points, 500 rebounds, 130 blocks, 115 assists and 55 steals since the start of last season (her first season at UK).
She needs just 33 more points to eclipse 1,000 career points (also including her one season at Virginia Tech).
Take a peek at some of Strack’s record games so far in 2025-26:
- at Tennessee on Jan. 23: She became the only UK player since at least 2002-03 to have multiple games with at least 15 rebounds against UT (last season and this season). She also has the most rebounds by a UK player against UT in Knoxville since at least 2002-03 (15 rebounds).
- at Mississippi State on Jan. 18: She is the first UK player with at least 10 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a single game since Evelyn Akhator vs. Morehead State on Nov. 18, 2015.
- No. 5/5 Oklahoma on Jan. 11: She became the first SEC player to have at least 18 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks against an SEC opponent ranked the AP Top 5 since South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso vs. No. 3 LSU on Feb. 12, 2023.
- Missouri on Jan. 4: Became the first Kentucky player to have two games with at least 19 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two steals in a single season since All-American Victoria Dunlap in 2010-11 (Hofstra, Missouri). Also, after making a career-high three 3s and three blocks, she became the first SEC player to have at least three 3s and three blocks in the same game since Aliyah Boston of South Carolina on Dec. 31, 2020.
- Hofstra on Dec. 28: She became the first SEC player to have at least 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks in a single game since Teaira McCowan of Mississippi State on Nov. 6, 2018.
- at No. 21/19 Louisville on Nov. 22: She earned her fifth straight double-double.
- Purdue on Nov. 18: She became the only DI women’s player, since at least 2002-03, to have at least 17 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, two assists and one made 3 in a single game.
- at Buffalo on Nov. 9: She became the only UK player to have at least 27 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks, two assists and one steal in a game since at least 2002-03. Also in that game, she became just the fourth SEC player to have those numbers in a game since at least 2002-03 (and the first since South Carolina’s Alaina Coates vs. Kentucky on Feb. 4, 2016).
This season, Strack has already hauled in a Wooden Award Top 25 Watch List selection, USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Week (Nov. 25), SEC Player of the Week (Nov. 25), 2x Preseason All-SEC candidate, Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List candidate and a Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Watch List candidate.