10/28/2026 1:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – UConn women's basketball sophomore Blanca Quiñonez was selected to the 20-player watch list for the 2027 Cheryl Miller Award the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced Wednesday.
The Cheryl Miller Award, in its 10th year, honors the top small forward in NCAA Division I women's college basketball. It is named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer.
Quiñonez had a breakout freshman season for the Huskies. She ranked third on the team with 10.7 points per game while also averaging 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
Quiñonez earned 2026 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, BIG EAST Sixth Woman of the Year, All-BIG EAST Second Team and All-Freshman Team honors. She was also tabbed to the 2026 NCAA Fort Worth 1 All-Region Team.
A native of Milagro, Ecuador, Quiñonez is UConn's first player from South America.
UConn alumna Gabby Williams was the inaugural recipient of the Cheryl Miller Award in 2018.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Cheryl Miller Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March.
On Monday, senior KK Arnold was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award, which goes to the nation's top point guard.
No. 2-ranked UConn officially opens the 2026-27 season vs. Cornell in PeoplesBank Arena next Monday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. The game will air on Peacock/NBC Sports Network.
