Cambridge Named to Wade Trophy Watch List
Ohio State junior guard Jaloni Cambridge is among 15 players on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's 50th-year Wade Trophy watch list.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Basketball
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association named Ohio State junior guard Jaloni Cambridge to the Wade Trophy watch list. The Buckeyes opened their 2026-27 season with an 81-34 win over UIC on Monday.
Why it matters
The watch list recognizes top women's college players as the award marks its 50th year. Cambridge's selection highlights Ohio State's standing on the national stage, with three Big Ten athletes appearing on the list.
Cambridge averaged 23.2 points per game in 2025-26 and 26.4 in conference play, and holds Ohio State's single-season record with 305 field goals made. She also ranks fourth in single-season scoring at Ohio State with 813 points.
The players
Jaloni Cambridge
A junior guard for Ohio State who was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection and has become one of the program's top scorers.
Women's Basketball Coaches Association
The national organization of college women's basketball coaches that administers the Wade Trophy and releases its annual watch list.
The details
Cambridge was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team pick by coaches and media last season. She reached 1,000 career points on Feb. 8 at Oregon and received the 2026 Dawn Staley Award.
Timeline
Feb. 8, 2026: Cambridge reaches 1,000 career points at Oregon.
Monday, Nov. 2, 2026: Ohio State opens its season with an 81-34 win over UIC.
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026: Ohio State hosts Central Michigan at the Schottenstein Center.
Season Trajectory
The Wade Trophy, now in its 50th year, is the sport's most prominent individual honor, and Cambridge's inclusion positions her among the leading candidates in a season that opened with a lopsided Ohio State win. Her preseason recognition places her alongside the Big Ten's top talent at the start of the campaign.
Cambridge's watch-list status makes her a player to track for fantasy and bracket purposes as the award race develops. Fans can follow Ohio State's home schedule, starting Thursday against Central Michigan.
The takeaway
Cambridge's unanimous All-Big Ten selection and record-setting season make her one of the most watched players in women's college basketball as the Wade Trophy race begins.
What happens next
Ohio State hosts Central Michigan at the Schottenstein Center on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more in Basketball coverage of the college season and its top individual honors.
