HOPEWELL, N.J. – Junior forward Avery Koenen has been selected to the midseason watch list for the 2026 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award presented by Her Hoop Stats, the organization announced on Wednesday.

Koenen becomes one of only 15 players in the nation to be named to the midseason watch list. She's also one of two players in the Summit League to earn the recognition, joining Brooklyn Meyer from South Dakota State.

Koenen is averaging a team-best 18.8 points with 11.1 rebounds per game this season. The Montevideo, Minn., native currently ranks in the top 10 in the nation and leads the Summit League in double-doubles (3rd, 13), field goal percentage (4th, 63.6), free throw attempts (4th, 134), defensive rebounds per game (6th, 8.3), free throws (8th, 99) and rebounds per game (9th, 11.1).

The full release can be viewed here.

NDSU, who has won each of its last 14 games, will be back in action at St. Thomas on Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.


Award Eligibility & Schedule
To be eligible for this award, players must compete in one of the 26 conferences deemed to be "mid-major." The following conferences are considered high-major for the purposes of this award and thus ineligible: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, and SEC. Additionally, players from Oregon State and Washington State remain ineligible this year.

The 25-player preseason watch list was announced in October, and 10 semifinalists will be announced in February. The five finalists will be announced in early March, with the winner announced around the Final Four. The list is fluid, and players may play their way on or off it over the course of the season.