dailyloe.com – University of Connecticut sophomore Kayleigh Heckel has earned the 2026 NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award for women’s basketball. The award was announced in Phoenix on April 1, 2026. It honors the student-athlete with the highest GPA at the championship finals.
Heckel maintains an impressive 3.967 cumulative grade-point average. She is majoring in analytics and information management. Freshmen are not eligible for this prestigious academic recognition.
The award was previously known as the Elite 90 Award. It is presented across 92 NCAA men’s and women’s championships. All three NCAA divisions are included in the program.
On the basketball court, Heckel is a key reserve player. She contributes to the undefeated UConn Huskies women’s team. Heckel averages 6.9 points and 2.8 assists per game.
This marks the second time a UConn player has received this honor. Legendary player Maya Moore first won the award in 2011. Heckel now joins this exclusive group of scholar-athletes.[]
Source: University of Connecticut Athletics
