Women's Basketball

2026 Women’s #AEHoops All-Conference Revealed as Four Programs Earn Major Awards

BOSTON – Regular Season Champion Vermont took home a pair of major awards and had three all-conference performers as the America East announced its all-conference selections and major award winners on Wednesday afternoon.
 
All of the major awards, All-Conference, All-Defensive and All-Rookie teams were determined in a vote by the league’s head coaches, who could not vote for their own players.
 
Adrianna Smith became the 11th player in league history to earn Player of the Year honors for a second time, with her selection this year. Vermont claimed a pair of awards as Nikola Priede took home Defensive Player of the Year honors and Alisa Kresge was recognized as the Coach of the Year. UMBC’s Jade Tillman is the Newcomer of the Year, while Amaya Stewart of UAlbany was named the Rookie of the Year and the Sixth Player of the Year.
 
Player of the Year
Adrianna Smith – Sr., Forward, Maine
  • First player in league history to lead the conference in scoring (22.2), rebounding (10.3) and assists (4.8) in a single season.
  • Also averaged 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game with a league-best 12 double-doubles.
  • 11th Two-time Player of the Year honoree in league history and 6th from Maine.
  • First men’s or women’s player in league history with over 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 400 assists
  • Only player in the entire nation to average 20+ point, 10+ rebounds and 4+ assists per game this season.
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Nikola Priede – Sr., Forward, Vermont
  • Led the league in blocks (1.3) and field goal percentage (.596) while ranking 4th in the league in scoring (17.4) and 5th in rebounding (7.8).
  • Second straight Vermont player to be named Defensive Player of the Year and the fourth in program history.
  • Anchors a UVM team that ranks 4th nationally in scoring defense (51.8) and leads the league in conference play giving up just 49.9 points per contest.
  • Helped lead Vermont to its first outright regular season title since 2002 and first No. 1 seed since 2023.
 
Sixth Player of the Year
Amaya Stewart – Fr., Forward, UAlbany
  • Averaged 12.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the floor.
  • Appeared in all 29 games, making two starts and averaging 23.5 minutes per game.
  • Led all freshman with six 20-point games and in scoring (12.3) this season.
  • Fifth UAlbany player to win the award and third in the past five seasons.
 
Newcomer of the Year
Jade Tillman – Jr., Forward, UMBC
  • Averaged 15.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.
  • In conference play, averaged 16.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game with 24 threes.
  • Had 19 points, 11 rebounds and game-winning jumper with five seconds left in 46-44 win over top seed Vermont on the road.
  • Third UMBC player to win the award in the last four seasons
 
Rookie of the Year
Amaya Stewart – Fr. Forward, UAlbany
  • Averaged 12.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the floor.
  • Appeared in all 29 games, making two starts and averaging 23.5 minutes per game.
  • Led all freshman with six 20-point games and in scoring (12.3) this season.
  • Only second Great Dane to be named Rookie of the Year, joining Shereesha Richards (2012-13).
 
Coach of the Year
Alisa Kresge, Vermont
  • Led Vermont to 13-3 mark in conference play and first outright regular season title since 2002.
  • Coached Vermont to 5th straight 20-win season, longest streak in the league since UAlbany had seven straight 20-win seasons from 2011-12 to 2017-18.
  • Vermont ranks 4th in the nation in scoring defense (51.8) and is allowing a league-low 49.9 points per game in conference play.
  •  Vermont also leads the league scoring (66.2), scoring margin (14.4), field goal percentage (45.6), 3-point field goal percentage (34.7), turnovers (10.5) & turnover margin (4.03).
 
Vermont led all schools with three All-Conference selections, including Nikola Priede and Keira Hanson on the First Team. Maine, Binghamton, NJIT, Bryant and UAlbany also had a pair of honorees. Smith earned her third first-team selection, while Zuniga secured her second first-team nod. Six players were named all-conference for the first time in their careers.

 
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Five first-time selections make up this year’s All-Defensive team, including three all-conference performers.
 
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All five All-Academic honorees were also named All-Conference, including 4 of 5 first-team selections.
 
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The 2026 Air Force Reserve #AEPlayoffs begins with quarterfinal action at 6 p.m. on Thursday as Vermont hosts UAlbany. Maine welcomes New Hampshire at 6 p.m., while Bryant travels to Binghamton for a 6:07 p.m. tip-off. UMBC hosts NJIT for in 6:30 p.m. contest in the 4/5 matchup.

All 2026 Air Force Reserve #AEPlayoffs action can be watched on ESPN networks. The quarterfinals and semifinals will air on ESPN+ as part of The AE on ESPN with a simulcast for international viewers on AmericaEast.TV. The championship game will be nationally televised on ESPNU. All three rounds will also be available via the ESPN app.

Complete postseason information can be found at the 2026 Air Force Reserve America East Women’s Basketball Championship Page.

ABOUT AMERICA EAST 
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference its social media channels, @AmericaEast.  
  
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -