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Rio Grande's Marlee Grinstead (black uniform) was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association 2026 NAIA All-American Team.
Rio Grande's Marlee Grinstead (black uniform) was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association 2026 NAIA All-American Team.
Posted: Mar 25, 2026

Rio's Grinstead named WBCA All-American

Rio Grande Sports Information
     ATLANTA, Ga. - University of Rio Grande senior guard/forward Marlee Grinstead was among those named to the 2026 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NAIA Coaches' All-American team.
     The WBCA released its list of NAIA award winners on Tuesday.
     Grinstead led the RedStorm to a 31-win season, a Top 10 ranking for much of the year and a trip to the NAIA National Championship Tournament.
     The Albany, Ohio native, who surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career during the 2025-26 season, led Rio Grande in scoring at 18.0 points per game. She also averaged 4.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
     Grinstead shot 53.6 percent from floor overall (214-for-399) and 85.1 percent from the free throw line (160-for-188) en route to earning First Team All-River States Conference honors, as well as being named the league's Player of the Year.
     Joining Grinstead on the WBCA All-America First Team was Mikee Burcham and Micah Hart of Bethel (TN) University; Milligan (TN) University's Semaj Clark; Taylor Covington of Indiana Tech; Marian (IN) University's Abbey McNally; Alissa O'Dell from Loyola University; Orgeon Tech's Tatum Schmerbach; Heaven Shockley from Evangel University; and Paige Shcokley of Rocky Mountain College.
     "We applaud the members of the 2026 WBCA NAIA Coaches' All-America team," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle M. Donehew. "Each of these young women has achieved an elite level of play within the NAIA and by doing so has increased public awareness of the women's game."
     McNally, who led Marian to the national championship, was named Player of the Year.
     "Abbey is most deserving of this distinguished honor," said Donehew. "The WBCA family of coaches congratulates Abbey on her hard work, dedication and exceptional play during the 2025-26 season."
     Lauren Glenn of Olivet Nazarene University was the 2026 WBCA NAIA Coach of the Year. She will receive the Pat Summitt Trophy, named for the late legendary University of Tennessee coach and awarded annually to the coaches of the year in each of the WBCA's membership divisions.
     "Lauren was chosen for this honor by her peers after leading her team to an outstanding season," Donehew said. "We congratulate Lauren on her success."
     University of Rio Grande head coach David Smalley, who announced his retirement after 34 seasons following the RedStorm's season-ending loss to Indiana Wesleyan in the second round of the national tournament, was among the six finalists for the award.
     The WBCA NAIA Coach of the Year, Player of the Year and Coaches' All-America team are selected by the WBCA NAIA Awards Committee from coaches and student-athletes who are nominated by WBCA member coaches.