LILBURN, Ga. -- John Brown University women's basketball posted the third-highest national finish among its WBCA Academic Top 25 appearances, No. 7 among all NAIA programs with a cumulative team GPA of 3.730, as the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced its 2025-26 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls on Tuesday (July 21).
The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes women's basketball programs that have demonstrated excellence both on the court and in the classroom across every collegiate division. To be eligible, teams must post a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and be nominated by a WBCA-member head coach.
Two other Sooner Athletic Conference programs joined the Golden Eagles on this year's list. Wayland Baptist checked in at No. 15 with a 3.646 GPA, while Oklahoma Panhandle State finished No. 18 at 3.607.
JBU's seventh-place finish trails only the program's top two showings on this honor roll, No. 5 in 2023-24 and No. 6 in 2022-23, marking the program's fourth consecutive top-10 finish and just the third time in 10 appearances it has ranked seventh or better. The recognition extends JBU's Academic Top 25 streak to seven consecutive seasons dating to 2019-20, the program's 10th appearance overall and ninth in the past 10 years, with the only absence coming in 2018-19.
Both of Sydni Webb's seasons as head coach have produced top-10 finishes, and 2025-26 marks her best result yet, improving from No. 8 a year ago. The team's GPA climbed from 3.690 in 2024-25 to 3.730 this year, trailing only a 3.762 effort in 2023-24 and 3.757 finish in 2022-23.
"The WBCA is pleased to recognize those women's basketball programs that have committed themselves to excellence on the court and in the classroom," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "The 119 ranked teams we honor this year across all five collegiate membership divisions strive to achieve all-around success and we commend their efforts. Congratulations!"
The WBCA team honor comes after six Golden Eagles were also individually recognized as 2025-26 NAIA Scholar-Athletes: sophomore Caelyn Ferguson, sophomore Riley Gottsponer, sophomore Lilli Mindeman, senior Abbey Sanders, junior Carley Sexton and sophomore Sarah Snodgrass.
Golden Eagles' WBCA Academic Top 25 Ranking History
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