Jordan Harrison Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Leads All-Conference Selections

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Senior guard Jordan Harrison has been named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, the conference announced on Tuesday. Harrison, graduate forward Kierra Wheeler, and junior guard Gia Cooke have also been named to the 2025-26 All-Big 12 Conference teams.

Harrison Earns Top Defensive Honor

Harrison headlines this year’s selections, earning not only the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award but also All-Big 12 First Team and All-Big 12 Defensive Team honors. She was a unanimous selection to the defensive team.

A native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Harrison is the second player in program history to receive the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year distinction. This marks the third consecutive season a Mountaineer has earned the honor, following JJ Quinerly’s back-to-back awards in 2024 and 2025. WVU Sports

Harrison’s Defensive Impact

Harrison is the fourth Mountaineer to be recognized on the all-defensive team in multiple seasons, joining Quinerly (2023-24-25), Lanay Montgomery (2016-17), and Jess Harlee (2013-14). She previously earned a spot on the list in 2024. This is also her third All-Big 12 team selection, having been a second-team honoree in both 2024 and 2025.

Harrison’s performance has been instrumental in establishing West Virginia as one of the top defensive teams in the Big 12. The Mountaineers rank second in the conference in scoring defense (60.88 points allowed per game) and lead the league in steals (189), steals per game (11.2), turnovers forced (378), and turnover margin (+5.82). WDTV

Harrison led the conference in steals this season with 64, averaging 3.76 steals per game – the only player in the conference to average over 2.5 steals per game. Her 94 steals this season rank 11th in program history, and she is on pace to become just the sixth Mountaineer to reach 100 career steals. WVU Sports

Wheeler and Cooke Honored

Kierra Wheeler and Gia Cooke were both named Honorable Mention All-Big 12 for their contributions this season. WVNSTV

West Virginia’s All-Big 12 History

With these selections, West Virginia now boasts 38 All-Big 12 team honors across 14 seasons in the conference.

2025-26 Big 12 Award Winners

• Player of the Year: Olivia Miles, TCU
• Freshman of the Year: Jaliya Davis, Kansas
• Newcomer of the Year: Olivia Miles, TCU
• Defensive Player of the Year: Jordan Harrison, West Virginia
• Sixth Player of the Year: Snudda Collins, Texas Tech
• Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Arianna Jackson, Iowa State
• Coach of the Year: Krista Gerlich, Texas Tech