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Mair Tapped to Lieberman Award Watch List
10/27/2025 1:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Duke women's basketball senior guard Taina Mair was named to the 2026 Nancy Lieberman Award Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced Monday afternoon.
Now in its 27th year, the Nancy Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
Mair, entering her third season with the Blue Devils, started all 37 games in 2024-25 and posted splits of 6.7 points, 3.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. She led Duke in total assists with 134 dimes and ranked among the ACC's best playmakers with a strong 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio. On the offensive end, the Boston native reached double figures nine times during the year – highlighted by a 21-point performance at NC State (Feb. 3) – while ranking second on the team in three-point shooting (.378) and third in made threes (34). Defensively, Mair's instincts were on full display as she tallied 17 games with two or more steals.
Fans are encouraged to participate in fan voting in each of the three rounds starting Friday, Oct. 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Nancy Lieberman Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame selection committee, where winners will be selected. The selection committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
#GoDuke
Now in its 27th year, the Nancy Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
Mair, entering her third season with the Blue Devils, started all 37 games in 2024-25 and posted splits of 6.7 points, 3.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. She led Duke in total assists with 134 dimes and ranked among the ACC's best playmakers with a strong 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio. On the offensive end, the Boston native reached double figures nine times during the year – highlighted by a 21-point performance at NC State (Feb. 3) – while ranking second on the team in three-point shooting (.378) and third in made threes (34). Defensively, Mair's instincts were on full display as she tallied 17 games with two or more steals.
Fans are encouraged to participate in fan voting in each of the three rounds starting Friday, Oct. 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Nancy Lieberman Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame selection committee, where winners will be selected. The selection committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
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