Clara Strack Chosen Top 5 Finalist for Center of the Year & Named All-American by USA Today

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Clara Strack is one of five players in the nation to be included on the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Finalist list, it was announced earlier this week by Lisa Leslie herself on CBS Sports’ We Need To Talk in conjunction with Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

She also was named to the USA Today All-America Second Team.

Last season, Strack was named to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Top 10, while this is the first time she has been named a top five finalist. The USA Today All-America nod is also her first.

Strack, a 6-5 center, who is leading the team in points, rebounds, blocks and steals, is averaging 17.1 points per game, 10.0 rebounds per game, 2.58 blocks per game, 1.82 assists per game and 1.21 steals per game in 33 starts this season. The junior also has made 23 3-pointers in 2025-26.

Her 2.58 bpg game are fifth in the nation, while her 85 total blocks are second in the nation and a single-season school record.

She joined Candace Parker (2005-07) as just the second player to have at least 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 150 blocks, 125 assists and 50 steals within first two seasons at a Southeastern Conference school. She also is the only active player in Division I to have at least 1,040 points, 630 rebounds, 155 blocks, 135 assists and 65 steals since the start of last season (her first season at UK).

Strack is coming off a noteworthy appearance at the SEC Tournament, averaging 21.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 2.6 bpg in three games there.

She also became third fastest in program history to eclipse 1,000 points at UK (63 games, 1,030 points) behind WNBA No. 1 Draft Pick Rhyne Howard and WBCA Hall of Famer Valerie Still.