10/28/2026 2:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Payton Hull was named the 2026-27 United Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year as Abilene Christian women's basketball was tabbed the UAC preseason favorite, the conference announced Wednesday. Hull landed on the Preseason All-UAC Team alongside teammates Erin Woodson and Meredith Mayes.
For the second year in a row, Hull was recognized as the conference's Preseason Player of the Year with ACU topping the Preseason UAC Coaches Poll. The Wildcats' three honorees on the 11-member Preseason All-UAC Team are the most in the conference.
ACU kicks off its 2026-27 campaign at 6 p.m. Monday as it hosts Howard Payne at Moody Coliseum.
Hull, the reigning Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and Mayes were also named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award preseason watch list on Wednesday. Hull earned All-WAC First Team and All-WAC Defensive Team honors a season ago, while Woodson landed on the All-WAC Second Team. Mayes missed 19 games in 2025-26 but was an All-WAC Second Team selection in 2024-25.
One of the most decorated players in the history of ACU women's basketball, Hull started each of the Wildcats' 35 games last season. The guard led the WAC in scoring (18.3 ppg), three-pointers (83 at a .312 clip) and steals (94). Hull ranked fourth in shooting percentage (.422), third in free throw percentage (.805) and fourth in assists (107). She averaged 4.1 rebounds per game and blocked 11 shots.
Hull scored in the double digits and recorded a steal in all but one game. The Peaster, Texas product established Division I program records in scoring, field goals and steals. A three-time Conference Player of the Week, Hull scored an ACU DI-record 36 points at Tarleton State on Feb. 14, the most by a WAC player in 2025-26.
Hull ranks third in the Wildcats' DI record book with 1,503 career points and is 163 points shy of breaking Alexis Mason's program record of 1,666 points. She's also in the top 10 for field goals, three-pointers, free throws, steals and assists.
Woodson was a workhorse for ACU in 2025-26, starting each of its 35 games and averaging a team-high 33.6 minutes. She totaled 1,176 minutes, one shy of matching the Wildcats' Division I record. Woodson ranked sixth in the conference with 14.1 points per game at a .444 clip. Her 493 points ranked fourth in ACU's DI era, while her 170 field goals were the third-most.
Woodson averaged 6.4 rebounds per game as ACU's leading rebounder and was fifth in the conference with 225 total boards. The guard ranked third with 67 steals and dished out 85 assists, the seventh-most in the league. Woodson registered a .757 free throw percentage, good for fifth in the WAC. The Richmond, Va. native logged a trio of double-doubles and added 15 blocks. A two-time WAC Player of the Week, Woodson scored 10 points or more in all but five contests.
ACU will be eager to have Mayes back in the picture. She was one of the most efficient scorers in the nation when healthy last season, touting the third-best field goal percentage at .682. The center led the WAC with 101 made field goals on 148 attempts to average 15.2 points per game, good for third in the conference.
Mayes averaged 7.9 rebounds per game with 126 total boards, including 52 on the offensive glass. The Bixby, Okla. native notched four double-doubles with a career-best 13 rebounds on three occasions. She ranked fifth in the WAC with 2.5 steals per game alongside 25 assists and 12 blocks.
Wildcat women's hoops is coming off its second consecutive WNIT Super 16 appearance in 2025-26. The Wildcats went 24-11 for their most wins since 2019-20 and advanced to the WAC title game with a 13-5 mark in conference play.
Fresh off an international tour to Greece and Rwanda, the Wildcats embark on Year 15 under head coach Julie Goodenough, anchored by a group of 10 returners that includes seven seniors, led by Hull, Woodson and Mayes. ACU retained its top five scorers from last season.
For the second year in a row, Hull was recognized as the conference's Preseason Player of the Year with ACU topping the Preseason UAC Coaches Poll. The Wildcats' three honorees on the 11-member Preseason All-UAC Team are the most in the conference.
ACU kicks off its 2026-27 campaign at 6 p.m. Monday as it hosts Howard Payne at Moody Coliseum.
Hull, the reigning Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and Mayes were also named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award preseason watch list on Wednesday. Hull earned All-WAC First Team and All-WAC Defensive Team honors a season ago, while Woodson landed on the All-WAC Second Team. Mayes missed 19 games in 2025-26 but was an All-WAC Second Team selection in 2024-25.
One of the most decorated players in the history of ACU women's basketball, Hull started each of the Wildcats' 35 games last season. The guard led the WAC in scoring (18.3 ppg), three-pointers (83 at a .312 clip) and steals (94). Hull ranked fourth in shooting percentage (.422), third in free throw percentage (.805) and fourth in assists (107). She averaged 4.1 rebounds per game and blocked 11 shots.
Hull scored in the double digits and recorded a steal in all but one game. The Peaster, Texas product established Division I program records in scoring, field goals and steals. A three-time Conference Player of the Week, Hull scored an ACU DI-record 36 points at Tarleton State on Feb. 14, the most by a WAC player in 2025-26.
Hull ranks third in the Wildcats' DI record book with 1,503 career points and is 163 points shy of breaking Alexis Mason's program record of 1,666 points. She's also in the top 10 for field goals, three-pointers, free throws, steals and assists.
Woodson was a workhorse for ACU in 2025-26, starting each of its 35 games and averaging a team-high 33.6 minutes. She totaled 1,176 minutes, one shy of matching the Wildcats' Division I record. Woodson ranked sixth in the conference with 14.1 points per game at a .444 clip. Her 493 points ranked fourth in ACU's DI era, while her 170 field goals were the third-most.
Woodson averaged 6.4 rebounds per game as ACU's leading rebounder and was fifth in the conference with 225 total boards. The guard ranked third with 67 steals and dished out 85 assists, the seventh-most in the league. Woodson registered a .757 free throw percentage, good for fifth in the WAC. The Richmond, Va. native logged a trio of double-doubles and added 15 blocks. A two-time WAC Player of the Week, Woodson scored 10 points or more in all but five contests.
ACU will be eager to have Mayes back in the picture. She was one of the most efficient scorers in the nation when healthy last season, touting the third-best field goal percentage at .682. The center led the WAC with 101 made field goals on 148 attempts to average 15.2 points per game, good for third in the conference.
Mayes averaged 7.9 rebounds per game with 126 total boards, including 52 on the offensive glass. The Bixby, Okla. native notched four double-doubles with a career-best 13 rebounds on three occasions. She ranked fifth in the WAC with 2.5 steals per game alongside 25 assists and 12 blocks.
Wildcat women's hoops is coming off its second consecutive WNIT Super 16 appearance in 2025-26. The Wildcats went 24-11 for their most wins since 2019-20 and advanced to the WAC title game with a 13-5 mark in conference play.
Fresh off an international tour to Greece and Rwanda, the Wildcats embark on Year 15 under head coach Julie Goodenough, anchored by a group of 10 returners that includes seven seniors, led by Hull, Woodson and Mayes. ACU retained its top five scorers from last season.
Players Mentioned
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