The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women’s Basketball’s Booker named Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year
04.05.2025 | Women's Basketball
Madison Booker repeats as winner of the Cheryl Miller Award.
SAN ANTONIO — University of Texas women's basketball sophomore Madison Booker is once again the winner of the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Saturday.
The Cheryl Miller Award, in its eighth year honors the top small forward in women's Division I women's college basketball. It is named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer.
"First and foremost I want to thank God for the opportunity and skills he has blessed me with," Booker said. "Also, I want to thank the committee for selecting me for this award. It is an honor to earn an award with the name Cheryl Miller on it because I know how much she has meant to the game. I want to thank my teammates and coaches as I wouldn't have received this award without their support and encouragement."
Booker was the 2024 winner of the Cheryl Miller Award as a freshman and has earned several accolades in the 2024-25 season. Among those honors include being named an Associated Press First Team All-American and WBCA First Team All-American. She was a finalist for the Wade Trophy and is currently a finalist for the Wooden Award, both of which recognize the top player in women's college basketball. Booker earned the SEC Player of the Year award to become the first player in women's college basketball to win conference player of the year honors with two different conferences.
"Madison is very passionate about the game," Texas head coach Vic Schaefer said. "Her values and approach to the game each and every day are unlike anything I've ever seen in a sophomore. She is special. She's a great teammate, but she's also a great competitor respecting her opponent and showing great sportsmanship."
Booker has scored 20 or more points in 14 games this season and has scored in double figures in 32 games. As an incredibly efficient player, Booker shot 46.4 percent from the field on the season, 40.3 percent from 3-point range and 82.8 percent from the free-throw line. In an eight-game stretch against ranked opponents, including five wins against top-10 teams, Booker averaged 20.5 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free-throw line.
"Maddie is truly one of a kind," teammate Shay Holle said. "Her ability to stay so poised and calm while still playing at such a high level has been so impressive and fun to watch. The love Maddie has for the game and her teammates is so evident on the court and I feel so grateful to get to play with her day in and day out. She is the type of player that makes everyone around her better, and always does it with a smile."
Rori Harmon was named one of five finalists for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year award and Taylor Jones was named one of five finalists for the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year award.
