The Big 12 Conference just rolled out its All-Big 12 awards for the 2025-26 women’s basketball season, and Baylor University definitely made its presence felt. The Bears landed several players on the All-Big 12 teams, proving their strength on both sides of the court.
This kind of recognition really speaks to what the Baylor women’s basketball team has accomplished, individually and together. The buzz is building as they get ready for the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament.
Baylor’s All-Big 12 First Team Selection: Taliah Scott
Taliah Scott has been a revelation for Baylor, grabbing a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team. She averaged 20.2 points per game overall and 18.7 in league play—pretty wild numbers.
Scott’s free-throw shooting was something else. She hit 80% or better five times, and twice she was a perfect 11-for-11. That’s the kind of consistency coaches dream about.
She became the 22nd Division I player since 2000 to notch 1,000 career points in 48 games or less. And if she keeps this up, she might become the first in Big 12 history to average 20+ points while shooting 90% or better from the stripe for a whole season.
Scott’s Impact on Baylor History
Scott’s name is popping up all over Baylor’s record books:
- Fourth in Baylor history for single-season 3-pointers
- Sixth for single-season free throws
- Sixth for points in a sophomore season
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs: A Defensive Powerhouse
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs picked up her fourth All-Big 12 honor, making both the Second Team and the All-Defensive Team. She’s the only player in the conference averaging a double-double for the second year running, with 10.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
Her 12 double-doubles this season stand out, especially a 26-point game against Le Moyne and grabbing 20 boards at Iowa State. That’s not something you see every day.
Littlepage-Buggs’ Notable Achievements
Her steady play and defensive strength have put her among Baylor’s all-time greats:
- Fourth in career rebounds at Baylor
- Eighth in Big 12 history for career rebounds
- Ninth Bear to reach 1,000 career points
Bella Fontleroy: Defensive and Offensive Contributions
Bella Fontleroy landed on the All-Defensive Team and got an honorable mention for the second year in a row. Her defense was a big part of Baylor’s 24-7 record this season.
She also had four games with 20 or more points, including a season-high 26 in the home opener against Lindenwood. Fontleroy’s second career double-double came against Houston—17 points, 12 rebounds. Not bad at all.
Fontleroy’s Career Milestones
She reached some nice milestones this year:
- Hit 1,000 career points against Le Moyne
- Moved up to No. 4 on Baylor’s all-time career 3-pointers list
Jana Van Gytenbeek: Orchestrating the Offense
Jana Van Gytenbeek earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in her return season. She’s been a key piece running Baylor’s offense.
Van Gytenbeek logged the first two double-doubles of her career this year, including a triple-double: 10 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds against Alabama State. That’s only the fourth triple-double by a Bear ever, and just the eighth time it’s happened in program history.
Van Gytenbeek’s Key Contributions
Her playmaking has made a difference:
- Four games with double-digit assists
- Scored in double figures 11 times
- Seventh in program history for single-season assists
Big 12 Conference Awards and Baylor’s Tournament Prospects
The Big 12 coaches also highlighted stars from other schools. TCU’s Olivia Miles was named both Player and Newcomer of the Year. Kansas’ Jaliya Davis took Freshman of the Year, and West Virginia’s Jordan Harrison got Defensive Player of the Year.
Texas Tech’s Snudda Collins was tabbed Sixth Player of the Year, Iowa State’s Arianna Jackson is Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Texas Tech’s Krista Gerlich took home Coach of the Year honors.
Baylor wrapped up the regular season on a high note, locking in the No. 3 seed for the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament. With a double bye, the Bears will tip off Friday at 8 p.m. against the winner of No. 11 Kansas/No. 14 UCF vs. No. 6 Colorado, on ESPN+ and the Baylor Sports Media Network.
If they win, they’ll move on to the Saturday 5:30 p.m. semifinal, again on ESPN+. The championship game? That’s set for Sunday at 4 p.m. on ESPN.
Conclusion: Baylor’s Momentum and Future Prospects
Baylor’s women’s basketball team has shown impressive talent this season. Their resilience has been on full display in every game.
The players’ individual accolades, along with the team’s achievements, really say a lot about the program’s strength. There’s a sense that they could be building something special for the future.
Now, as the Bears get ready for the Big 12 Tournament, there’s a lot of buzz. Fans and analysts are eager to see just how far this group can go—could it be a deep run?
For more on Baylor athletics and some of the real challenges they face, you might want to check out Baylor AD Doug McNamee’s thoughts on NIL, the fan experience, and the overall momentum of the program here.
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