BOISE, Idaho (March 7, 2025) – With the conclusion of the 2024-25 Big Sky Conference women's basketball regular season, the league office has announced its All-Conference Teams, All-Defensive Team and Individual Award Winners as we head into #StarchMadness inside Idaho Central Arena.
The Big Sky All-Conference Teams and Individual Award Winners are voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches. They are not allowed to vote for players on their own team.
Montana State's Esmeralda Morales headlines the awards after being named Most Valuable Player and a unanimous All-Conference First Team member. Morales heads into the postseason ranked third in the Big Sky in scoring with 15.2 points per game and fourth in steals with 1.9 per game.
Fellow Bobcat Taylee Chirrick was named Defensive Player of the Year in her first season of collegiate competition. The true freshman led the conference in steals with 3.2 per game, totaling 95 in the regular season.
Montana State's Tricia Binford was named Coach of the Year after leading the Bobcats to their first outright regular season title since the 2019-2020 season. This is Binford's fifth coach of the year honor.
Idaho's Olivia Nelson was unanimously named Newcomer of the Year after a stellar season for the Vandals. Nelson ranked fifth in the league in scoring with 14.3 points per game. Nelson registered a pair of 30+ point games during the conference slate.
Kourtney Grossman earns freshman of the year honors representing Eastern Washington. She is the third Eagle in the past five years to win this award. Grossman led the league in rebounds, averaging 10.4 per game. She also recorded 13 double-doubles on the season, good enough to rank #26 in the nation.
Rounding out the individual awards, Northern Arizona's Saniyah Neverson was named Top Reserve. Neverson was a vital part of the Lumberjack's success averaging 7.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. She also contributed 23 steals and 15 blocks.
Olivia Nelson, Esmeralda Morales, Sophie Glancey and Taylor Feldman were unanimously selected as First Team All-Conference members. Marah Dykstra, Benthe Versteeg and Taylor Smith also earned All-First Team selections.
The second All-Defensive Team has also been announced, headlined by Defensive Player of the Year Taylee Chirrick. Katelynn Martin, Benthe Versteeg, Kacey Spink and Sophie Glancey also tabbed All-Defensive Team members.
The full list of All-Conference players and Individual Award Winners can be found below.
Big Sky in Boise
The 2025 Big Sky Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships take place on March 8-12 at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho, home to Starch Madness for the seventh consecutive year. The tournament champions will receive an automatic berth to their respective NCAA Tournaments and represent the Big Sky in March Madness later in the month.
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#BigSkyWBB 2024-25 All-Conference Team & Individual Award Winners
Most Valuable Player – Esmeralda Morales, Montana State
Newcomer of the Year – Olivia Nelson, Idaho*
Defensive Player of the Year – Taylee Chirrick, Montana State
Top Reserve – Saniyah Neverson, Northern Arizona
Freshman of the Year – Kourtney Grossman, Eastern Washington
Coach of the Year – Tricia Binford, Montana State
* Unanimous Selections
2024-25 Big Sky Women’s Basketball First Team All-Conference
Esmeralda Morales, Montana State*
Olivia Nelson, Idaho*
Taylor Feldman, Northern Arizona*
Sophie Glancey, Northern Arizona*
Marah Dykstra, Montana State
Benthe Versteeg, Sacramento State
Taylor Smith, Weber State
* Unanimous Members of the All-Big Sky First Team
2024-25 Big Sky Women’s Basketball Second Team All-Conference
Kendra Parra, Weber State
Tasia Jordan, Idaho State
Jaydia Martin, Sacramento State
Katelynn Martin, Montana State
Nyah Moran, Northern Arizona
Mack Konig, Montana
2024-25 Big Sky Women’s Basketball All-Conference Honorable Mention
London Gamble, Northern Colorado
Dani Bartsch, Montana
Hope Hassmann, Idaho
Peyton Howard, Eastern Washington
Kourtney Grossman, Eastern Washington
2024-25 Big Sky Women’s Basketball All-Defensive Team
Taylee Chirrick, Montana State (DPOY)
Katelynn Martin, Montana State
Benthe Versteeg, Sacramento State
Kacey Spink, Idaho State
Sophie Glancey, Northern Arizona