SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – University of Miami graduate transfer Ra Shaya Kyle was named to the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Friday.
The award is presented annually to the nation’s best center in Division I women’s basketball.
A transfer from Florida, Kyle was in the SEC’s top 10 for rebounding at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. Kyle also led Florida in field goal percentage, yielding a 59.5 percent.
A walking double-double, the Marion, Indiana, native hit double figures in both scoring and rebounding in more than 50 percent of her contests at Florida.
Miami tips off the season Monday, welcoming Hofstra to the Watsco Center for a 5 p.m. tip.
Tickets are available for the 2025-26 women’s basketball season and can be purchased online at www.miamihurricanes.com/tickets.
| Full List of the 2026 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates* | ||
| Lara Rohkohl | BYU | |
| Sakima Walker | Cal | |
| Audi Crooks | Iowa State | |
| Clara Strack | Kentucky | |
| Laura Ziegler | Louisville | |
| Kate Koval | LSU | |
| Ra Shayla Kyle | Miami | |
| Ashley Sofilkanich | Michigan | |
| Tilda Trygger | NC State | |
| Megan Nestor | North Texas | |
| Raegan Beers | Oklahoma | |
| Gracie Merkle | Penn State | |
| Madina Okot | South Carolina | |
| Brooklyn Meyer | South Dakota State | |
| Kennedy Umeh | Stanford | |
| Breya Cunningham | Texas | |
| Lauren Ware | Texas A&M | |
| Lauren Betts | UCLA | |
| Serah Williams | UConn | |
| Aalyah Del Rosario | Vanderbilt | |
– MiamiHurricanes.com –