West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team continued its tradition of academic excellence by earning Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Special Mention recognition after posting a 3.591 team GPA during the 2025-26 academic year.

Head coach Kyle Cooper's squad was the highest-ranked Mountain East Conference program recognized by the WBCA and earned WBCA academic recognition for the 11th time since the 2001-02 season. The Hilltoppers have now received national recognition in three consecutive years, and for the eighth time in Cooper's nine seasons, following NCAA Division II Top 25 finishes in each of the previous two seasons.

"I'm unbelievably proud of the effort our student-athletes put forth in the classroom, not just on the court," Cooper said. "Our standards on the Hilltop extend far beyond the scoreboard. We expect our players to compete for championships while also striving for excellence academically. This recognition reflects the commitment, discipline and character of our team, and it's something everyone in our program takes great pride in."

The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes women's basketball programs across all collegiate divisions that achieve the highest cumulative team grade-point averages for the academic year. The 2025-26 honor roll marks the 31st year the WBCA has recognized academic excellence among women's basketball programs.

West Liberty's 3.591 team GPA led all Mountain East Conference programs recognized by the WBCA this year. The Hilltoppers were one of only two MEC schools honored, joined by Fairmont State, which earned Special Mention with a 3.587 team GPA.

West Liberty has established itself as one of the nation's premier academic women's basketball programs over the past two decades. The Hilltoppers' 11 WBCA academic recognitions since the 2001-02 season include multiple Top 25 finishes, highlighted by a program-best No. 4 national ranking during the 2003-04 academic year.





West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.