Kenny Brooks’ first year at the helm of Kentucky women’s basketball has been nothing short of remarkable. The Wildcats, boasting a 22-6 record and finishing fourth in the SEC, have now added multiple conference accolades to their résumé. On Tuesday, the league announced its annual awards, and Kentucky was well represented, headlined by Georgia Amoore being crowned SEC Newcomer of the Year and Clara Strack earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Amoore also landed a spot on the All-SEC First Team, while Strack was recognized on both the All-SEC Second Team and the SEC All-Defensive Team. Despite Kenny Brooks' incredible turnaround, he was surprisingly overlooked for SEC Coach of the Year.
In her first season with Kentucky, Georgia Amoore has not only adapted to her new surroundings but has elevated her game to career-best levels. As a Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Top Five Finalist, Amoore has showcased her all-around brilliance, averaging 18.8 points per game, a 42.4% field-goal percentage, 6.9 assists per game, and a 2.16 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Amoore has been an offensive engine for the Wildcats, scoring in double digits in 26 of 27 games this season, including 12 performances of 20+ points. She even tied the single-game school record with a career-high 43 points in a statement win over Oklahoma, making her just the fifth player in Division I women’s basketball this season to reach that mark.
Her 6.9 assists per game currently rank second in Kentucky program history, and she is on the verge of breaking the school’s single-season assist record, needing just 18 more to surpass the mark of 209. Furthermore, Amoore’s ability to both score and distribute has made her one of the most impactful players in the nation, responsible for nearly half of Kentucky’s total offensive production in SEC play.
Adding to her legacy, she is the only active Division I player—men’s or women’s—to have at least 2,000 career points (2,379) and 800 assists (848). She joins an elite company in Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu as just the third player in women’s Division I history to achieve at least 2,300 points and 800 assists.
Sophomore center Clara Strack, not to be outdone, has cemented her status as one of the most dominant defensive forces in the nation. Strack, a Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Finalist, led the SEC in blocked shots with 2.5 per game, ranking ninth nationally, and set Kentucky’s single-season blocks record with 70 swats.
Beyond her shot-blocking prowess, Strack has been a force on both ends of the floor, averaging 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. She recently had a monster two-game stretch, recording a combined 46 points, 23 rebounds, six assists, and five blocks in games against No. 11 Tennessee and No. 6 South Carolina.
Her efficiency has also been record-breaking. In Kentucky’s win over Tennessee, Strack went a perfect 11-for-11 from the field, breaking the program’s single-game field-goal percentage record. She became the first Division I women’s player since at least 2002-03 to shoot 100% from the field on at least 11 attempts against an AP Top 15 team.
Strack has been a consistent double-double threat as well, recording 13 on the season, ranking third in the SEC. If the season ended today, her 2.5 blocks per game would set a new Kentucky program record.
While Amoore and Strack’s individual accolades are well-deserved, the biggest credit goes to head coach Kenny Brooks, who has transformed the Wildcats into an SEC powerhouse in just one season. Leading Kentucky to a 22-6 record and fourth-place conference finish is no small feat, especially in the ultra-competitive SEC. Many believe Brooks should have been a strong contender for SEC Coach of the Year, but his players’ recognition speaks volumes about his impact.
With Amoore’s elite playmaking and Strack’s defensive dominance, Kentucky is poised to make serious noise in the postseason. This Wildcats team has already defied expectations—now, they’ll look to continue proving doubters wrong as they chase an SEC Tournament title and a deep NCAA Tournament run.