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Makira Cook

Women's Basketball

Cook Earns Spot on Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Watch List

NEWS

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – For the second straight year, Illinois fifth-year guard Makira Cook has earned a spot on the 2024-25 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Watch List presented by AXIA Time, the Naismith Awards announced on Monday morning.

Cook is one of 50 women's basketball players nationally and one of 14 Big Ten student-athletes who were included on the prestigious award's preseason list.

A Preseason All-Big Ten honoree, Cook led the Fighting Illini in scoring with 16.4 points per game while finishing in double figures in 27 of her 31 appearances during the 2023-24 campaign. The Cincinnati native also posted a team-best 4.4 assists per game in her second season with the Orange and Blue last year.

Despite missing three games, Cook eclipsed the 500-point mark for the second straight season, which brought her over 1,000 points during her time at Illinois and above the 1,600-point mark during her collegiate career.

Cook led the team in scoring 14 times during the Illini's 2023-24 slate. Guiding Illinois to the inaugural WBIT championship, the program's first-ever postseason title, Cook was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player while scoring 27 points in the final and breaking the program's single-tournament scoring record (105 points).

An All-Big Ten selection in each of the last two seasons, Cook shot 40% from the field, 35.4% from 3-point range, and 85.4% from the free-throw line as a senior.

Cook is one of three Fighting Illini players in program history to land on the Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year preseason watch list, with Tauja Catchings and Susan Blauser each earning a spot on the list ahead of the 1999-2000 season.

2024-25 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Watch List*

Georgia Amoore

Kentucky

 Alexis Markowski

Nebraska

Sarah Andrews

Baylor

Rayah Marshall

USC

Sarah Ashlee Barker

Alabama

Cotie McMahon

Ohio State

Raegan Beers

Oklahoma

Olivia Miles

Notre Dame

Lauren Betts

UCLA

Aneesah Morrow

LSU

Madison Booker

Texas

S'Mya Nichols

Kansas

Paige Bueckers

UConn

Lucy Olsen

Iowa

Sonia Citron

Notre Dame

Te-Hina Paopao

South Carolina

Makira Cook

Illinois

Laila Phelia

Texas

Audi Crooks

Iowa State

JJ Quinerly

West Virginia

Yvonne Ejim

Gonzaga

Kiki Rice

UCLA

Azzi Fudd

UConn

Reigan Richardson

Duke

MiLaysia Fulwiley

South Carolina

Saniya Rivers

NC State

Rori Harmon

Texas

Emily Ryan

Iowa State

Hannah Hidalgo

Notre Dame

Madison Scott

Ole Miss

Kiki Iriafen

USC

Shyanne Sellers

Maryland

Aziaha James

NC State

Hannah Stuelke

Iowa

Lauren Jensen

Creighton

Serena Sundell

Kansas State

Flau'jae Johnson

LSU

Makayla Timpson

Florida State

Raven Johnson

South Carolina

Alyssa Ustby

North Carolina

Deja Kelly

Oregon

Hailey Van Lith

TCU

Gianna Kneepkens

Utah

Skylar Vann

Oklahoma

Ta'Niya Latson

Florida State

Talia von Oelhoffen

USC

Ayoka Lee

Kansas State

JuJu Watkins

USC

Charlisse Leger-Walker

UCLA

Mikaylah Williams

LSU

*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point during the 2024-25 season.

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Players Mentioned

Makira Cook

#3 Makira Cook

G
5' 6"
Fifth Year

Players Mentioned

Makira Cook

#3 Makira Cook

5' 6"
Fifth Year
G