Western Illinois University student-athlete Mia Nicastro has been named one of ten semifinalists for the 2026 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, according to an announcement from Her Hoop Stats.
The award was first presented in 2020 and recognizes the top player in women’s college basketball from mid-major conferences. It is named after WNBA legend Becky Hammon and highlights players who excel outside the high-major conferences.
Nicastro’s selection places her among leading mid-major athletes nationally and continues a tradition of achievement for Western Illinois University Leathernecks Women’s Basketball. The program is based in Macomb, Illinois, plays its home games on the university campus, and competes in the Ohio Valley Conference as part of its intercollegiate athletics program. The team adopted the Leathernecks nickname to honor the U.S. Marine Corps and features Rocky the Leatherneck as its mascot. More details about the team can be found on its official website.
The ten semifinalists represent eight different conferences. The list will be narrowed to five finalists in early March, with a winner announced around the Final Four.
To qualify for this award, student-athletes must compete in one of 26 mid-major conferences. A preseason watch list was announced in October before being trimmed to ten semifinalists in February.
Nicastro aims to become the first Western Illinois player to reach finalist status and potentially bring this honor to Macomb.
For more information on the award and full semifinalist list, visit Her Hoop Stats.
