Fans are Stunned:Talaysia Cooper named semifinalist for Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year
Talaysia Cooper of Tennessee women’s basketball has been selected as a semifinalist for MOLECULE’s 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Cooper, a transfer from South Carolina and a redshirt sophomore, was one of ten semifinalists for the prize. Three student-athletes who are not juniors or older are listed, including her.
Cooper, a product of Turbeville, South Carolina, is scoring 16.7 points, pulling down 5.6 rebounds, dishing out 3.2 assists, and grabbing 3.1 steals annually. Tennessee’s transition offense, which averages 87.2 points per game, has benefited from her steals and defensive rebounds (3
In 31 games so far this season, Cooper has racked up 95 steals. She has the most steals of any Tennessee player since Alexis Hornbuckle and is ranked eighth in the country. During the 2007–08 season, Hornbuckle recorded 37 games with 104 steals.
Cooper tied former Lady Vols head coach Holly Warlick for third-most steals in a single game this season with a career-high nine against Oklahoma.
