Women's Basketball | 3/24/2026 11:05:00 AM

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Women's Basketball team had four players earn academic honors on Tuesday. Senior Malia Nelson of Dover (Dover-Eyota HS), juniors Grace Knupp of Woodbury, Minn. (East Ridge HS) and Katie Waukau of West De Pere (HS) and sophomore Molly Janke Ellsworth (HS) have been named to the 2025-26 Academic All-District® Women's Basketball Team, selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC), the organization announced Tuesday. 

It is Knupp and Waukau's second career Academic All-District® selection while it is the first for Nelson and Janke. 

Malia Nelson, Senior Guard

• Nelson is a management major with a 3.54 grade point average.
• She has been a member of the UWL's Dean's List three semesters.
• She is was a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Confrence (WIAC) Scholastic Honor Roll after 2024-25 school year.
• WIAC First Team All-Conference selection and D3hoops.com All-Region 9 Third Team honoree.
• Started all 30 games she played in.
• Second on the team in scoring (10.2 ppg), rebounding (5.7 rpg) and steals (1.3 spg). 
• Led the Eagles in assists (2.7 apg). 

Grace Knupp, Junior Guard

• Knupp is a psychology major with a 3.82 grade point average.
• She has been a member of the UWL's Dean's List five semesters.
• She was a member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll after her freshman and sophomore seasons.
• Knupp played in all 31 games including making 30 starts.
• Led the team in scoring (10.3 ppg) and steals (1.48 spg). 
• She also finished second on the team in assists (2.6 apg) and fourth in rebounding (3.3 rpg). 

Katie Waukau, Junior Guard

• Waukau is a public administration major and a political science minor with a 3.70 grade point average. 
• She has been a member of the UWL's Dean's List five semesters.
• She was a member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll after her freshman and sophomore season.
• She played in 29 of the 31 games this season. 
• Averaged 4.2 ppg and 1.1 rpg. 

Molly Janke, Sophomore Forward

• Janke is a psychology major with a 3.68 grade point average. 
• She has been a member of the UWL's Dean's List three semesters.
• She was a member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll after her freshman season.
• WIAC First Team All-Conference selection.
• She played in all 31 games including making 30 starts.
• Led the Eagles in rebounding (8.1 rpg) including recording 11 games with 10 or more rebounds. She also finished with eight double-doubles on the year (points, rebounds). 
• Third on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg) and assists (1.74).

The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Women's Basketball Team, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Academic All-District® honorees are considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced April 15. 

The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2025-26 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.