Three of the Richmond area’s top women’s basketball players are drawing national attention as the 2025-26 season tips off. 

VCU’s Mary-Anna Asare and the University of Richmond’s Maggie Doogan and Rachel Ullstrom have been named to the 2026 Becky Hammon Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List, announced by Her Hoops Stats. 

The award, named for WNBA legend and Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon, honors the nation’s top mid-major women’s basketball player. Players from 26 conferences are eligible for the annual recognition. 

Maggie Doogan Doogan, a senior forward, was last season’s Atlantic 10 Player of the Year after leading the Spiders to a second straight regular-season title. She averaged 17 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists, including a 30-point, 15-rebound performance in Richmond’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win over Georgia Tech. 

Mary-Anne Asare 

Asare, a senior guard, led VCU in scoring at 16 points per game and earned All-Conference Second Team honors. She reached double figures in 25 of 30 games while averaging 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists. 

Rachel Ullstrom

 

Ullstrom, also a senior for Richmond, posted career highs across the board — 15.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 50 steals — earning All-Conference First Team honors. She scored 18 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the Spiders’ NCAA round of 32 matchup against top-seeded UCLA. 

The trio are among five Atlantic 10 players named to this year’s watch list. 

Their recognition comes as the Richmond region prepares to host the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship for a third straight year. The A-10 recently extended its partnership with the venue and Richmond Region Tourism through 2029. The 2026 tournament will be March 4-8 at the Henrico Sports & Events Center. 

More information is available at atlantic10.com.