College Sports Communicators announced on Mar. 24 that four members of the Utah Valley University women’s basketball team were selected for its annual Academic All-District Team. The honorees include Kylee Mabry, Saige Gibb, Halle Nelson, and Cambree Blackham.
The recognition highlights the achievements of student-athletes who excel both in their sport and in academics. These awards are seen as an important measure of success beyond athletic performance.
Head coach Dan Nielson said, “I’m so proud of what these four have accomplished both on and off the court. They have worked so hard to grow our program, all while excelling in the classroom and creating opportunities for themselves beyond basketball. They truly embody what it means to be a student-athlete!”
Mabry received this honor for the third time after completing her career with 112 games played at UVU, ranking eighth all-time at the school. She also recorded 216 career steals, placing second on UVU’s steals list, and is set to finish her degree in exercise science. Gibb earned her second Academic All-District selection while studying health sciences; she achieved new personal bests in points per game, steals, and rebounds during the season.
Nelson was named to the team for a second time as she prepares to graduate with a Master of Business Administration in April. She leaves as one of UVU’s top rebounders historically and contributed significantly throughout the season. Blackham earned her first selection after being named second-team All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and setting a single-season record for steals at UVU.
The program continues its focus on academic achievement: seven players received Academic All-WAC honors during the 2024-25 season, and Utah Valley was recognized by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association for having one of the top ten GPAs among women’s basketball programs nationwide last year.
