In a crowning moment for Nebraska women’s basketball, senior center Alexis Markowski has been named the 2024-25 Jersey Mike’s Naismith College Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, a historic accolade announced by ESPN on April 6, 2025, capping a remarkable season for the Lincoln native. Markowski, who led the No. 23 Huskers to a 24-10 record and an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance, became the first Nebraska player to claim the prestigious award, outshining finalists like USC’s JuJu Watkins and Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke. Her dominance, averaging 16.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while setting a school-record 47 double-doubles, sparked a frenzy on X, with @HuskerWBB tweeting, “Alexis Markowski is our Naismith queen! #GBR.” This honor solidifies her as a Husker legend.
Markowski’s 2024-25 campaign was a masterclass in consistency and impact. A three-time All-Big Ten first-team selection, she erupted for a career-high 35 points and nine three-pointers against Oregon on February 19, 2025, and notched a 20-point, 21-rebound masterpiece at Purdue in 2024, one of five 20-20 games in Nebraska history, per *huskers.com*. Her 1,902 career points (seventh all-time at Nebraska) and 1,134 rebounds (second all-time) shattered program records, surpassing Kelsey Griffin’s 40 double-doubles. Markowski’s versatility—shooting 48.7% from the field and 34.1% from three—paired with her defensive prowess (4.1 blocks per game in Big Ten play) made her a matchup nightmare, fueling Nebraska’s run to the Big Ten Championship Game and a 74-68 NCAA upset over No. 2 UConn, per *SI.com*.
The Naismith win, voted on by coaches, media, and fans via hoophallawards.com, wasn’t without debate. Critics on X, like @CBBFanatic, argued Watkins’ 27.1 points per game or Stuelke’s 14.0 points and 6.8 rebounds deserved the edge, citing USC’s deeper Pac-12 run. Yet, Markowski’s leadership in Nebraska’s toughest schedule in a decade—facing Iowa, UCLA, and South Carolina—swayed voters, with ESPN’s Andrea Adelson noting her “clutch intangibles.” Her February 8, 2025, Lisa Leslie Award finalist nod and Women’s College All-Star Game selection underscored her dominance, per *SI.com*. Markowski’s choice to stay at Nebraska over transfer portal offers, including a rumored $1.2 million NIL deal from LSU, echoed Billy Edwards Jr.’s loyalty, making her a fan hero. @NebraskaPride tweeted, “Lex stayed home and brought us glory!”
Markowski’s Naismith triumph elevates Nebraska’s program as they prepare for 2025-26, with Coach Amy Williams eyeing five-star recruit Britt Prince to build on the Elite Eight run. Her participation in the WBCA “So You Want To Be A Coach” program at the 2025 Final Four hints at a future in coaching, per *huskers.com*. The announcement, celebrated at Pinnacle Bank Arena with 9,000 fans, coincided with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, amplifying her role as an inspiration, per *SI.com*. As Nebraska football basks in Trae Taylor’s commitment, Markowski’s trophy ensures women’s basketball shares the spotlight, with @HuskerNation posting, “Alexis Markowski just put Lincoln on the map!” Her legacy, etched in 47 double-doubles and a Naismith Trophy, signals a new era for Husker hoops.