All-Louisiana: O'Dell first team, Thornton second team

NEW ORLEANS — Alissa O'Dell and Deniya Thornton of Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball were named Saturday to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana team.
 

O'Dell is on the first team, and Thornton made the second team. Both were juniors in 2025-26. A LSWA panel of college sports publicists selected the team and the major awards.
 

O'Dell and Thornton 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.
 

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. Odell is Loyola's fifth All-Louisiana first-team selection in this sport and the first since Sandra Cannady and Kennedy Hansberry in 2022-23.
 

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.
 

Both O'Dell and Thornton were NAIA All-Americans this past season.
 

Fourteen Loyola women's basketball athletes have earned a collective 24 All-Louisiana selections on the third team or higher.
 

NEWS: Alissa O'Dell and Deniya Thornton were recognized on Saturday as two of the best collegiate players in Louisiana! #GeauxPack pic.twitter.com/EzBPxnokLV

— Loyola New Orleans Athletics (@LoyolaWolfPack) April 18, 2026

2025-26 All-Louisiana

Player of the Year: Flau'Jae Johnson, LSU
Newcomer of the Year: Milaysia Fulwiley, LSU 
Freshman of the Year: Dakota Howard, McNeese 
Coach of the Year: Ayla Guzzardo, McNeese 

First team
Alissa O'Dell, Loyola
Vernell Atamah, Northwestern State
Paris Bradley, Louisiana Tech
Flau'Jae Johnson, LSU
Mikayla Williams, LSU

Second team
Deniya Thornton, Loyola
Milasia Fulwiley, LSU
Dakota Howard, McNeese
Selma Markisic, LSU-Shreveport
Jalencia Pierre, McNeese
 

Loyola on All-Louisiana teams

2025-26: Alissa O'Dell first team, Deniya Thornton second team 
2023-24: Sandra Cannady second team, Taylor Thomas honorable mention  
2022-23: Sandra Cannady first team, Kennedy Hansberry first team 
2021-22: Kennedy Hansberry second team, Tay Cannon third team, Taylor Thomas honorable mention
2020-21: Taylor Thomas second team, Sandra Cannady third team and Newcomer of the Year
2019-20: Kaila Anthony second team
2018-19: Kaila Anthony third team, Megan Worry honorable mention
2016-17: Meghan Temple third team, Zoie Miller honorable mention, Kellie Kennedy Coach of the Year
2015-16: Briana Oglesby honorable mention
2014-15: Janeicia Neely second team
2013-14: Jasmine Brewer second team
2012-13: Jasmine Brewer third team
2011-12: Keiva Council first team, Jasmine Brewer third team
2010-11: Keiva Council second team, Jasmine Brewer honorable mention
2009-10: Trenese Smith second team
2008-09: Trenese Smith second team, Trenell Smith honorable mention
2007-08: Trenese Smith first team, Trenell Smith third team
2006-07: Trenese Smith second team and Freshman of the Year
2004-05: Joelle Bordelon honorable mention
2003-04: Marjorie Bilinski third team and Freshman of the Year, Joelle Bordelon honorable mention 
1999-2000: Jennifer LaBiche honorable mention
1998-99: Brooke Surette, honorable mention
1996-97: Brooke Surette, honorable mention