University of North Carolina Athletics
Nyla Harris Earns Spot On Miller Award Preseason Watch List
October 29, 2025 | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – No stranger to the Atlantic Coast Conference, Nyla Harris has been recognized as one of the country's best small forwards and named a 2026 Cheryl Miller Award Candidate.
The annual Miller Award recognizes the nation's top small forward in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. In honor of the two-time national champion, Miller scored over 3,000 points during her career at USC and earned four-time All-America honors from 1982-86.
Harris joined the Tar Heels this past offseason after three seasons at Louisville, where she appeared in 105 games for the Cardinals. Boasting a 54.2% field goal percentage, Harris led Louisville from the field the past two seasons. The Orlando, Fla., native, tallied 14 games as a junior in double-figure scoring and added two double-doubles. Throughout her career, Harris is currently averaging 7.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Miller Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February, to five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Miller, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where the winners will be selected. The selection committee is composed of top women's college basketball personal, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2026 Miller Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with four other members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards include the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).
Harris and the No. 11 Tar Heels travel to South to face off against No. 2 South Carolina in an exhibition meeting on Oct. 30 in The Bad Boy Mowers Series – Atlanta. Tip from State Farm Arena is set for 6 p.m. ET, the game will not be televised, but can be heard on the airwaves on 97.9 FM/1360 AM WCHL, the Varsity Network App or the GoHeels App. Tickets for the game at State Farm Arena remain available here.
Season tickets for the 2025-26 season remain on sale, for more information regarding tickets, visit goheels.com/tickets or reach out to the UNC Athletic Ticket Office at 919-926-2296 or tickets@unc.edu.
Stay up to date with the latest North Carolina women's basketball news on X at @UNCWBB, Instagram @UNCWBB and Facebook at Carolina Women's Basketball.
2026 Cheryl Miller Award Candidates
Bella Fontleroy – Baylor
Jadyn Donovan – Duke
Jordan Obi – Kentucky
Skylar Jones – Louisville
Mikayla Williams – LSU
Adrianna Smith – Maine
Yarden Garzon – Maryland
Olivia Olson – Michigan
Grace VanSlooten – Michigan State
Grace Slaughter – Missouri
Nyla Harris – North Carolina
Sahara Williams – Oklahoma
Stailee Heard – Oklahoma State
Cotie McMahon – Ole Miss
Tierra Simon – Richmond
Maryam Dauda – South Carolina
Zee Spearman – Tennessee
Madison Booker – Texas
Gabriela Jaquez – UCLA
Caroline Ducharme – UConn
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2025-26 season.
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The annual Miller Award recognizes the nation's top small forward in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. In honor of the two-time national champion, Miller scored over 3,000 points during her career at USC and earned four-time All-America honors from 1982-86.
Harris joined the Tar Heels this past offseason after three seasons at Louisville, where she appeared in 105 games for the Cardinals. Boasting a 54.2% field goal percentage, Harris led Louisville from the field the past two seasons. The Orlando, Fla., native, tallied 14 games as a junior in double-figure scoring and added two double-doubles. Throughout her career, Harris is currently averaging 7.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Miller Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February, to five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Miller, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where the winners will be selected. The selection committee is composed of top women's college basketball personal, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2026 Miller Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with four other members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards include the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).
Harris and the No. 11 Tar Heels travel to South to face off against No. 2 South Carolina in an exhibition meeting on Oct. 30 in The Bad Boy Mowers Series – Atlanta. Tip from State Farm Arena is set for 6 p.m. ET, the game will not be televised, but can be heard on the airwaves on 97.9 FM/1360 AM WCHL, the Varsity Network App or the GoHeels App. Tickets for the game at State Farm Arena remain available here.
Season tickets for the 2025-26 season remain on sale, for more information regarding tickets, visit goheels.com/tickets or reach out to the UNC Athletic Ticket Office at 919-926-2296 or tickets@unc.edu.
Stay up to date with the latest North Carolina women's basketball news on X at @UNCWBB, Instagram @UNCWBB and Facebook at Carolina Women's Basketball.
2026 Cheryl Miller Award Candidates
Bella Fontleroy – Baylor
Jadyn Donovan – Duke
Jordan Obi – Kentucky
Skylar Jones – Louisville
Mikayla Williams – LSU
Adrianna Smith – Maine
Yarden Garzon – Maryland
Olivia Olson – Michigan
Grace VanSlooten – Michigan State
Grace Slaughter – Missouri
Nyla Harris – North Carolina
Sahara Williams – Oklahoma
Stailee Heard – Oklahoma State
Cotie McMahon – Ole Miss
Tierra Simon – Richmond
Maryam Dauda – South Carolina
Zee Spearman – Tennessee
Madison Booker – Texas
Gabriela Jaquez – UCLA
Caroline Ducharme – UConn
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2025-26 season.
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Players Mentioned
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