North Carolina State University Athletics
10/26/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – NC State women's basketball senior Zoe Brooks has been tabbed to the 20-person Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Watch List, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Monday. The award honors the best point guard in women's college basketball.
Brooks was named to the 10-person All-ACC Preseason Team. She registered 16.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a junior, all career highs. Brooks joined Miah Spencer (2015-16) as the only Pack players this century to average such numbers. She finished the season second in free throw percentage (.868), seventh in assists per game, eighth in scoring and 11th in field goal percentage (.437) and steals per game in the ACC. Her 138 free throws made last season marked the fourth-most in school history, while her free throw percentage finished as the fifth-best in a season.
The Plainfield, New Jersey, native led the team with the best overall +/- (+302) and had the second most points in the paint on the team (8.0 per game). She recorded 26 double-digit scoring games, three double-digit rebounding games, two double-doubles and 16 5+ assists contests. Brooks surpassed 1,000 career points to become the 41st member of the 1K club at NC State, and enters her senior season at No. 10 in assists (388), No. 12 in free throws made (309) and No. 27 in career points (1,321).
Last season, Brooks logged a career-high 37 points at Virginia, marking the most by a Wolfpack player since Chasity Melvin's 37 vs. Louisiana Tech in 1998. She went 19 of 20 from the free throw line, setting school records in both categories. Brooks also tallied nine 20-point games last season, including 25 points with a career-high six steals at Virginia Tech and 27 points while shooting 12-of-12 from the free throw line at Boston College.
Brooks is a two-time All-ACC First Team selection and was the 2025 ACC Most Improved Player. Last year, Brooks was one of 10 on the Nancy Lieberman Midseason Top 10 Watch List.
To be considered for the Nancy Lieberman Award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Nancy Lieberman, a 1996 Hall of Famer. The award is in its 28th year.
Brooks is one of five ACC point guards on the watchlist. The list will remain fluid as the season progresses to give players the opportunity to move on and off the list until the final five are selected. This list will be trimmed to 10 players in late February, and the final five will be announced in March. The award winner and presentation details will be announced at the men's Final Four in Detroit. Fans will have the opportunity to vote starting on Friday, Oct. 30.
NC State will officially begin the season vs. Wofford on Monday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watch List
Chit-Chat Wright - Iowa
S'Mya Nichols - Kansas
Zamareya Jones - Louisville
Jada Williams - LSU
Gal Raviv - Miami
MiLa Holloway - Michigan
Kennedy Blair - Michigan State
Zoe Brooks - NC State
Britt Prince - Nebraska
Hannah Hidalgo - Notre Dame
Jaloni Cambridge - Ohio State
Aaliyah Chavez - Oklahoma
Liv McGill - Oklahoma State
Katie Fiso - Oregon
Jadyn Wooten - TCU
Bryanna Preston - Texas
KK Arnold - UConn
Jazzy Davidson - USC
Jasmine Bascoe - Villanova
Kymora Johnson - Virginia
