The Washington Huskies women's basketball team boasted three players who received all-conference honors last season: senior guard Sayvia Sellers, junior guard Avery Howell and freshman forward Brynn McGaughy.

Sellers was named first-team All-Big Ten, Howell was All-Big Ten honorable mention and McGaughy was named a Big Ten All-Freshman.

For those who watched the Huskies in their two-game stint in the 2026 NCAA tournament, Howell looked like a first team all-conference guard in her own right.

In UW's two March Madness contests: a 72-54 opening round win against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits and a 62-59 overtime loss against the TCU Horned Frogs in the Round of 32, Howell was Washington's go-to offensive options.

Howell averaged 22 points in the two games on 54.2% shooting from the floor (55.6% from 3-point range) in addition to 8.5 rebounds, two assists and one steal.

Howell's 30 points against South Dakota State was the second-highest scoring total in a game last season. Her six 3-pointers were a season-high.

Howell's team-high against the Jackrabbits helped lead the Huskies to their first NCAA tournament win since 2017.

There's high expectations for Washington to take the next step in the 2026-27 season and make a deep run into the NCAA tournament, and Howell's continued success will likely play a big role.

Howell's tournament performance and overall season showed that there's another level she can reach. And there's an argument to be had she already reached another level as a player in her sophomore season.

Howell came to the Huskies last year as one of the more notable acquisitions via the transfer portal. She played he freshman season with the Southern California (USC) Trojans.

In her freshman year with the Trojans, who made the 2025 NCAA tournament, Howell averaged 7.5 points across 35 games (three starts) on 43.1% shooting from the floor (39.9% from beyond the arc). She also averaged three rebounds per game. She played 20.8 minutes per contest

In her first year with Washington, Howell's minutes and production both increased. She averaged 14.2 points across 33 games (all starts) on a 50.8% clip from the floor (43.1% from 3-point range). She led the team in rebounding (8.3 boards per game), 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Howell was a consistent No. 2 option for Sellers for the entire season. She also led the team in rebounds and was the most efficient scorer on the team based on percentages.

The Huskies showed in the tournament and throughout the regular season that they can win when Howell steps in as the No. 1 option. 

Championship winning teams often have multiple players that can share responsibilities on a night-to-night basis, and if the tournament is a sign that Howell can continue to get better, then she might be one of the most valuable players in the Big Ten next season.

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