The University of Mississippi Athletics
Cotie McMahon Named a Top Five Finalist for Cheryl Miller Award
3/11/2026 | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Ole Miss women's basketball's Cotie McMahon has been named a top five finalist for the 2026 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced on Wednesday.
This marks the third time that McMahon has been honored to the prestigious small forward list, earning top 10 finalist honors last season and top 5 finalist recognition in 2024. McMahon is only the third Rebel to be a top five finalist for a Naismith Starting Five Award, joining Armintie Price who was a Wooden Trophy Finalist in 2006-07, and Peggie Gillom who was a Wade Trophy Finalist in 1979-80.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting starting on Friday, March 13, at 1:00 PM ET, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Later this month, the finalists will be presented to Erving and Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Selection Committees for the Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers. The winners of the 2026 Erving and Miller Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five.
McMahon is no stranger to national acclaim, earning a spot on the Wooden Award National Ballot and the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team, among 19 total individual honors this season alone. The Dayton, Ohio, native was also recently named the SEC Newcomer of the Year and earned First Team All-SEC honors.
In her lone season at Ole Miss, McMahon has been a dominant force, averaging 19.9 points on 45.1% shooting, while adding 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 30.5 minutes per game. She elevated her play during the demanding SEC slate, posting averages of 21.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 33.4 minutes per contest.
With 675 total points so far this season, McMahon has recorded the fifth-most points by a Rebel in a single season. The senior has also scored 20 or more points in 19 games, tying Bianca Thomas (2009-10) for the second-most such performances in a single season in program history.
McMahon and Ole Miss will await its postseason fate on Selection Sunday, which is slated for March 15 at 7 p.m. CT.
Follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on X at @YolettMcCuin.
Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award Finalists
Mikayla Williams – LSU
Olivia Olson – Michigan
Cotie McMahon – Ole Miss
Madison Booker – Texas
Gabriela Jaquez – UCLA
This marks the third time that McMahon has been honored to the prestigious small forward list, earning top 10 finalist honors last season and top 5 finalist recognition in 2024. McMahon is only the third Rebel to be a top five finalist for a Naismith Starting Five Award, joining Armintie Price who was a Wooden Trophy Finalist in 2006-07, and Peggie Gillom who was a Wade Trophy Finalist in 1979-80.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting starting on Friday, March 13, at 1:00 PM ET, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Later this month, the finalists will be presented to Erving and Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Selection Committees for the Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers. The winners of the 2026 Erving and Miller Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five.
McMahon is no stranger to national acclaim, earning a spot on the Wooden Award National Ballot and the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team, among 19 total individual honors this season alone. The Dayton, Ohio, native was also recently named the SEC Newcomer of the Year and earned First Team All-SEC honors.
In her lone season at Ole Miss, McMahon has been a dominant force, averaging 19.9 points on 45.1% shooting, while adding 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 30.5 minutes per game. She elevated her play during the demanding SEC slate, posting averages of 21.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 33.4 minutes per contest.
With 675 total points so far this season, McMahon has recorded the fifth-most points by a Rebel in a single season. The senior has also scored 20 or more points in 19 games, tying Bianca Thomas (2009-10) for the second-most such performances in a single season in program history.
McMahon and Ole Miss will await its postseason fate on Selection Sunday, which is slated for March 15 at 7 p.m. CT.
Follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on X at @YolettMcCuin.
Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award Finalists
Mikayla Williams – LSU
Olivia Olson – Michigan
Cotie McMahon – Ole Miss
Madison Booker – Texas
Gabriela Jaquez – UCLA
Players Mentioned
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