Strack Named Preseason SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Preseason All-SEC First Team
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Clara Strack was named the Preseason Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-SEC First Team by USA Today, before also hauling in All-SEC First Team honors by a panel of conference and national media, on Monday.
The senior center was the lone player to receive more than one vote for Preseason SEC Defensive Player of the Year, while she was one of just five players in the league to receive Preseason All-SEC First Team nods on both lists.
Kentucky was picked to finish fifth in the loaded league by both USA Today and a panel of conference and national media, too, on Monday.
Strack, 6-5 center from Buffalo, New York, enters her senior season in 2026-27, returning to the college women’s basketball scene as one of just two Lisa Leslie Center of the Year finalists from a year ago. In 36 games last season, she averaged 16.9 points per game, 10.1 rebounds per game, 2.53 blocks per game, 1.89 assists per game and 1.22 steals per games, while also sinking 25 3s.
The Wildcat, who led her team in points, rebounds, blocks and steals, also combined for 16 double-doubles, which were 18th in the nation. Meanwhile, her 91 blocks were second in the nation and her 2.52 bpg were seventh in the nation, while both values also broke her own single-season school records. Her 365 rebounds were 13th in the nation.
This list of preseason honors given out today are as follows:
USA TODAY
First Team
G Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt*
F Madison Booker, Texas*
F Joyce Edwards, South Carolina*
G Mikaylah Williams, LSU
C Clara Strack, Kentucky
*Unanimous selection
Second Team
G Tessa Johnson, South Carolina
G Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma
G MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
G Talaysia Cooper, Ole Miss
F Chloe Kitts, South Carolina
Preseason Coach of the Year
Dawn Staley, South Carolina
Preseason Player of the Year
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Clara Strack, Kentucky
Order of Finish
1. South Carolina
2. Texas
T-3. LSU
T-3. Vanderbilt
5. Kentucky
6. Ole Miss
7. Oklahoma
8. Tennessee
9. Mississippi State
10. Florida
11. Texas A&M
12. Alabama
13. Georgia
14. Missouri
15. Auburn
16. Arkansas
SEC Media Poll
First Team
Madison Booker, Texas
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
Clara Strack, Kentucky
Mikaylah Williams, LSU
Second Team
Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma
Tessa Johnson, South Carolina
MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
Chloe Kitts, South Carolina
Talaysia Cooper, Ole Miss
Preseason Players of the Year
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Order of Finish
1. South Carolina
2. Texas
3. LSU
4. Vanderbilt
5. Kentucky
6. Oklahoma
7. Ole Miss
8. Tennessee
9. Mississippi State
10. Alabama
11. Texas A&M
12. Florida
13. Georgia
14. Missouri
15. Auburn
16. Arkansas
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