The All-Big 12 awards for the 2026 Big 12 lacrosse season have been unveiled. The honors were voted on by the Conference’s head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.  

Florida’s Clark Hamilton garnered Attack Player of the Year, while teammate Kaitlyn Davies was named Midfielder of the Year and Autumn Blair collected Freshman of the Year honors.

Colorado’s Jess Peluso was named Defender of the Year, with teammate Elena Oh selected as Goalkeeper of the Year. The Buffaloes’ Ann Elliott Whidden was voted the league’s Coach of the Year.

Arizona State’s Anna Viglione procured Draw Specialist of the Year, while her teammate Helen Park earned Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year honors alongside Cincinnati’s Ava LaRuffa.  

Hamilton led the Gators to their second consecutive regular season Big 12 title and an unblemished 5-0 league record. The sophomore averaged 3.25 goals per game, ranking second among Conference players, and earned three Big 12 Attack Player of the Week honors during the season.

Davies recorded 40 draw controls along with 36 points and 28 goals. The senior successfully defended her Big 12 Midfielder of the Year title from 2025, collecting 21 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers this season.  

Blair totaled 20 goals and three assists while causing two turnovers during her debut season, helping the Gators sit at No. 4 in the IWLCA poll.

Peluso repeated as Big 12 Defender of the Year after leading the league with 30 caused turnovers (2.0 per game). The senior also tied for fifth among Conference players with 1.53 ground balls per game.

Oh led the nation with a 6.30 goals against average while holding the second-best save percentage among Big 12 players (.489). The sophomore led the league with seven Goalkeeper of the Week honors during the season.

Elliott Whidden has Colorado ranked No. 10 in the RPI and No. 14 in the IWLCA poll. The Buffaloes finished the regular season a perfect 7-0 at home in Boulder for just the fourth time in program history.

Viglione ranks first nationally with 12.53 draw controls per game, claiming her second consecutive Big 12 Draw Specialist of the Year honor. The junior earned a season-high six weekly Draw Specialist league honors during the season.

Park maintains a 4.0 GPA while majoring in biomedical sciences and is pursuing a minor in dance and medical nutrition.

LaRuffa is a health sciences major on a pre-med track with a 4.0 GPA and is pursuing a minor in health sciences and chemistry.

In addition to the 18-member All-Big 12 Team, an All-Newcomer Team was selected, consisting of 13 student-athletes who are in their first year participating at the institution and first year in the Conference, including true or redshirt freshmen. 

The 2026 Big 12 Women’s Lacrosse Tournament presented by Allstate is set for Thursday, April 30 and Saturday, May 2. Florida will host the Tournament at Donald R. Dizney Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.

The top-seeded Gators will face No. 4 seed UC Davis at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, followed by No. 2 seed Colorado taking on No. 3 seed Arizona State at 7 p.m. ET. Both semifinals will air on ESPN+.

The Tournament final will be broadcast on ESPNU on Saturday, May 2 at 4 p.m. ET. Tickets are not required for admission to the Tournament, while spectator parking will be available in the lot between Donald R. Dizney Stadium and Condron Family Ballpark.

2026 Big 12 Lacrosse Yearly Award Winners
Attack Player of the Year
Clark Hamilton, Florida, So.

Midfielder of the Year
Kaitlyn Davies, Florida, Sr.

Defender of the Year
Jess Peluso, Colorado, Sr.*

Goalkeeper of the Year
Elena Oh, Colorado, So.*

Draw Specialist of the Year
Anna Viglione, Arizona State, Midfielder, Jr.

Freshman of the Year
Autumn Blair, Florida, Attack

Co-Scholar Athletes of the Year
Helen Park, Arizona State, Defender, R-Sr.
Ava LaRuffa, Cincinnati, Defender, Jr.

Coach of the Year
Ann Elliott Whidden, Colorado

All-Big 12 Team
Jordyn Behar, Arizona State, Attack, Sr.*
Teagan Ng, Arizona State, Attack, Sr.*
Lydia Oldknow, Arizona State, Attack, Sr.*
Anna Viglione, Arizona State, Midfielder, Jr.
Paige Selhorn, Cincinnati, Attack, So.*
Lily Assini, Colorado, Midfielder, Sr.*
Mary Carson, Colorado, Defender, Sr.
Mack Hanlon, Colorado, Defender, Sr.
Rachel Kennedy, Colorado, Attack, R-Jr.*
Elena Oh, Colorado, Goalkeeper, So.*
Jess Peluso, Colorado, Defender, Sr.*
Maddie Shoup, Colorado, Attack, Sr.*
Theresa Bragg, Florida, Defender, Sr.*
Kaitlyn Davies, Florida, Midfielder, Sr.*
Ashley Dyer, Florida, Defender, Jr.
Frannie Hahn, Florida, Attack, R-So.*
Clark Hamilton, Florida, Attack, So.*
Gabbi Koury, Florida, Midfielder, Jr.

All-Newcomer Team
Addy Westerberg, Arizona State, Midfielder, Fr.*
Ava Whitt, Arizona State, Attack, Fr.*
Morgan Handzel, Cincinnati, Draw Specialist/Midfielder, So.*
Kyva Holloway, Cincinnati, Defender, Fr.
Emma Mielke, Cincinnati, Goalkeeper, Gr.
Rowan Edson, Colorado, Attack, Fr.*
Autumn Blair, Florida, Attack, Fr.*
Boo DeWitt, Florida, Midfielder, Gr.*
Caroline Hoskins, Florida, Midfielder, Fr.*
Alexa Stone, Florida, Midfielder, Fr.
Lilah Turley, San Diego State, Midfielder, Fr.*
Ava Horrocks, UC Davis, Attack, Fr.*
Holly Smith, UC Davis, Midfielder, Fr.*

Players are sorted alphabetically by school
*indicates unanimous selection
A tie created an extra position on the All-Newcomer Team