Mississippi State freshman forward Madison Francis is in the running for one of the top individual awards in Division I women’s basketball this season. She was named to the 2026 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year watchlist on Tuesday, one of 25 athletes and one of just four freshmen, to be recognized in the midseason list.
Francis is already one of MSU’s biggest contributors as a freshman, averaging 13 points and 7.4 rebounds per game and breaking into the starting lineup after just four games. She is already one of the top defenders in the game, averaging 3.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game on top of her consistency in rebounding. She is currently the SEC block leader, posting six or more blocks in four games so far this season.
At Alabama on Sunday, Francis posted a new career high of seven steals as part of a defensive effort that included eight boards and a block on top of 16 points and six assists. She is now the only player in the country to have both seven steals and seven blocks in different games this campaign.
This is the third individual recognition for Francis so far in her freshman year, earning the Tamika Catchings USBWA National Freshman of the Week honor in December and the 2025 Emerald Coast Classic Bay Bracket MVP award from MSU’s appearance at the mini-tournament back in November.
Francis and the Bulldogs are on the road at No. 17 Tennessee today, tipping off at 5:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
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