If you are a college basketball fan or former player you can almost hear the sounds of sneakers squeaking on polished hardwood, the swish of free throw after free throw hitting net in the practice gym, and the sharp whistle tweets driving ladders and laps pushing teams to get back into season fighting form. At the heart of the most competitive programs is one old-school ideal guiding it all. John Wooden, Mr. Pyramid of Success himself, who believed basketball was a classroom for character.
The award that bears his name still holds that line today, and players looking to win it in 2026 are making the most of preseason practice time as we speak. Because it is more than point totals and wins; it is about being the best you can be every day. That is why the John R. Wooden Award remains the most coveted individual honor for men and women in college basketball, celebrating on-court excellence, academics, and integrity through the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Coach Wooden 101 And Why This Trophy Hits Different
John Wooden led by example. He was a man of character and a coach second. An English teacher by training, he believed it was his duty to guide his players into becoming the best version of themselves on and off the court. His soft-spoken nature carried weight and he turned UCLA into a basketball dynasty, winning 10 NCAA Championships in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975 including seven straight titles and a still-standing 88-game win streak from 1971 to 1974 despite winning being secondary to developing good men in his program.
The Wooden Award was established in the mid-1970s to honor the top men’s college players and added the women’s award in 2004. A panel of 1,300 media and basketball experts vote, with finalists selected after the Elite Eight. Candidates are selected based on basketball skills, leadership, character, and academic integrity, all part of Wooden’s recipe for success.
The Field: Favorites, Freshmen, and a Few Firecrackers
The 2025–26 Wooden race officially kicks off in late October with the committee pulling together a preseason poll of the Top 50 likely winners for both men and women. The list will be halved in January with the knowledge that late bloomers not on the list can still emerge and take home the trophy. Last year’s winners, Cooper Flagg and JuJu Watkins, are the most recent examples of the caliber of player and level of competition Wooden Award winners are playing at. Caitlin Clark (Iowa) and Zach Edey (Purdue) are two recent two-time winners (2023, 2024), with a list of past stars that includes Kevin Durant, Candace Parker, Shane Battier, Tim Duncan, Christian Laettner, Michael Jordan, Ralph Sampson, Larry Bird, and more.
For the men, 2026 Wooden Award candidates include:
- Braden Smith, Purdue: The steady, surgical engine who could make it three Wooden winners in four years for the Boilermakers, following in Edey’s footsteps with back-to-back trophies.
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech: A metrics darling with highlight-reel timing who led the Red Raiders with 18.2 points and 9.4 rebounds last year. 2025 honors include Big 12 Player of the Year and AP All-America Second Team.
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU: The highly touted freshman is likely an NCAA short timer, already pegged as a first-round NBA draft pick in 2026. He is ranked at +1200 for a Wooden Award during his predicted short stay.
- Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue: Another Boilermaker with crafty footwork and high-IQ cutting. If Smith is the engine, TKR is the finisher who benefits.
On the women’s side, likely leaders include:
- Lauren Betts, UCLA: A 2024-25 Wooden Award finalist and member of the midseason watch list, Betts is a top contender and a projected first-round WNBA pick.
- Sarah Strong, UConn: Another Wooden Award watch-list player who has the stage and program pedigree to thrive.
- Olivia Miles, TCU: A former Notre Dame star and 2024-25 All-America Team member now trying to propel TCU into the Elite Eight.
- Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame: On the 2025 ballot and midseason list, Hidalgo steps into the spotlight after losing multiple teammates to transfer or the pros.
- Madison Booker, Texas: A 2025 Wooden finalist, AP First Team All-American, and SEC Player of the Year. With Texas ranked No. 4 preseason, she has the platform to push for the award again.
Betting Board: Top 10 With Live Futures
How the Odds Stack to the Eye Test
The market is screaming “point guard who wins” at the top. That favors Smith for the men, because he posts box-score triple threats and lives in the 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover neighborhood. But the books are split on freshmen. BetMGM has Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa priced aggressively, signaling belief in immediate usage on national brand programs. DraftKings is more conservative on the newcomers and higher on returning college stars like JT Toppin.
Context matters with this award. Wooden voters tend to lean toward elite seeds and obvious on/off value. That is why Kaufman-Renn’s number intrigues: if Purdue keeps rolling and his scoring jumps into the high teens with elite efficiency, he can close ground on his teammate. Conversely, a flashy freshman can win. Cooper Flagg just did it last season for Duke, but he paired production with winning and big-TV moments. Freshmen on teams that flirt with the bubble do not get the same runway.
The Last Word
Coach Wooden taught that success is peace of mind earned by knowing you did your best. This year’s Wooden chase will reward the players who stack that excellence daily in practices, grades, community, and big games. The award recognizes authenticity and consistency over flash and highlight reels, though those definitely help the cause. The trick for bettors is reading the room, or in this case the court, as the season evolves with team context, TV moments, and momentum. Check back with the Sandman for odds updates and men’s basketball highlights as we move closer to the November 3 kickoff.
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