NEW ORLEANS — For the second time in four seasons, Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball has two All-Americans on the NAIA's committee-selected team. It's also the eighth time in Kellie Kennedy's 18 years as head coach that Loyola has had two NAIA All-Americans during the same season.
The Wolf Pack's Deniya Thornton is on the second team, and teammate Alissa O'Dell made the third team. Both were juniors in 2025-26. The two honors give the program 15 All-Americans in its history.
Thornton and O'Dell led the Wolf Pack to a 25-5 record, the Southern States Athletic Conference regular-season championship (17-1), a No. 16 ranking in the final NAIA coaches poll, a school-record 17-game winning streak and the second round of NAIA nationals.
Thornton, a 5-foot-10 guard/forward from New Roads, La., and a graduate of St. Amant High School, was No. 2 at Loyola in points per game (15.8) and rebounds per game (6.3). Thornton was the only Louisiana college player, female or male, to produce 450 points, 100 made free throws, 175 rebounds, 60 assists, 70 steals and 25 blocked shots in 2025-26.
Odell, a 6-foot forward/center from Zachary, La., and a graduate of Zachary High School, averaged 16 points and 8.2 rebounds and led Loyola in both for the second consecutive season. This is Odell's second All-America award in five days; Thursday, she was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's 10-member NAIA team.
The NAIA honored 46 players — 12 apiece on the first and second teams and 22 on the third team. Loyola was one of seven schools with multiple All-Americans.
Nine Loyola women's basketball athletes have earned a collective 12 All-America selections on the third team or higher.
2025-26 NAIA All-Americans
First team
Micah Hart, Bethel (Tenn.)
Whitney Hay, Campbellsville
Tabor Teel, Dakota State
Avery Broughton, Dakota Wesleyan
Macy Sievers, Dordt
Gracie Schoonhoven, Dordt
Lily Key, Freed-Hardeman
Jenna Satterly, Freed-Hardeman
Meadow Tisdale, Lindsey Wilson
Abbey McNally, Marian (Ind.)
Paige Wasson, Rocky Mountain
Cali Gregory, Saint Francis (Ind.)
Second team
Deniya Thornton, Loyola
Kendall Locke, Bethel (Kan.)
Mikee Buchanan, Bethel (Tenn.)
Jersey Huerta, Corban
Emma Yost, Dakota Wesleyan
Daisy Gale, Georgetown (Ky.)
Taylor Covington, Indiana Tech
Selma Markisic, LSU-Shreveport
Kameron Green, MidAmerica Nazarene
Tatum Schmerbach, Oregon Tech
Kylie Diaz, Peru State
Marlee Grinstead, Rio Grande
Third team
Alissa O'Dell, Loyola
Emily Till, Arizona Christian
Madison Hart, Bethel (Tenn.)
Mallie McNair, Briar Cliff (Iowa)
Dea Bradley, Campbellsville
Willa Albrecht, Carroll (Mont.)
Logan Jones, College of the Ozarks
Ashtyn Klusmeyer, Columbia (Mo.)
Joy Kendrick, Cumberlands
Heaven Shockley, Evangel
Rayland Garner, Friends
Christen Collins, Georgia Gwinnett
Sarah Snodgrass, John Brown
Taylor Double, Marian (Ind.)
Semaj Clark, Milligan
Hadley Humpherys, Montana Tech
Patsy Johnson, Rust
Anna Marshall, Simpson (Calif.)
Grace Field, Southeastern (Fla.)
Abby Wolter, St. Ambrose
Kaycie Warfel, Taylor
Cha'Myrean Ellis, Williams Baptist
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