Nebraska Women's Basketball's Alexis Markowski Named Preseason All-Big Ten

For the third time in her career, Nebraska women's basketball's Alexis Markowski has made the preseason All-Big Ten team.
Mar 10, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers center Alexis Markowski (40) shoots against the Iowa Hawkeyes during overtime at Target Center.
Mar 10, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers center Alexis Markowski (40) shoots against the Iowa Hawkeyes during overtime at Target Center. / Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
In this story:

Heading into her senior season, Nebraska women's basketball's Alexis Markowski continues to earn the respect of the league's coaches and media.

The Big Ten Conference announced preseason all-conference teams Thursday. Markowski was named Preseason All-Big Ten from both the coaches and media. This is the third time she has been named to the Big Ten's preseason teams, having done so as a sophomore and as a junior.

Markowski led Nebraska is scoring and rebounding last season, grabbing 19 double-doubles along the way. Her 40 career double-doubles have her tied with first-team All-Americans Kelsey Griffin (2006-10) and Jordan Hooper (2011-14) for Nebraska's career record.

The Lincoln native helped last year's Huskers go 23-12 and make the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Entering the 2024-25 season, Markowski is just 44 rebounds away from becoming the sixth player in school history with 1,000 career rebounds. She is 324 rebounds away from Janet Smith's more than 40-year-old Nebraska career rebound record (1,280). Markowski, who had 369 rebounds last season, is also within striking distance of one of the top-five rebounding totals in Big Ten Conference history.

Michigan State's Julia Ayrault (40) shoots over Nebraska center Alexis Markowski (40) in the Big 10 opener at Breslin Saturda
Michigan State's Julia Ayrault (40) shoots over Nebraska center Alexis Markowski (40) in the Big 10 opener at Breslin Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. / Robert Killips | Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Elsewhere, USC's JuJu Watkins was the only unanimous choice of both the coaches and the media to earn preseason All-Big Ten honors. The sophomore guard was the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by coaches and media.

The coaches and media were also in agreement on the top five teams in preseason voting, beginning with No. 1 USC, No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Maryland, and No. 5 Indiana.

Markowski and 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Natalie Potts will join Nebraska coach Amy Williams at Big Ten Women's Basketball Media Day in Rosemont, Ill., Wednesday, Oct. 2. The event will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

Oregon State guard Dominika Paurová presses toward the basket as the Oregon State Beavers take on the Nebraska Huskers in the
Oregon State guard Dominika Paurová presses toward the basket as the Oregon State Beavers take on the Nebraska Huskers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday, March 24, 2024, at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

2024-25 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Makira Cook, 5th, G, Illinois
Hannah Stuelke, Jr., F, Iowa
Lucy Olsen, Gr., G, Iowa
Shyanne Sellers, Sr., G, Maryland
Alexis Markowski, Sr., C/F, Nebraska
Cotie McMahon, Jr., F, Ohio State
Lauren Betts, Jr., C, UCLA (unanimous)
Kiki Rice, Jr., G, UCLA
JuJu Watkins, So., G, USC (unanimous)
Kiki Iriafen, Gr., F, USC
Serah Williams, Jr., F, Wisconsin

2024-25 Coaches Preseason Player of the Year
JuJu Watkins, So., G, USC

2024-25 Coaches Big Ten Preseason Rankings
1. USC
2. UCLA
3. Ohio State
4. Maryland
5. Indiana

2024-25 Media Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Hannah Stuelke, Jr., F, Iowa
Lucy Olsen, Gr., G, Iowa
Shyanne Sellers, Sr., G, Maryland
Alexis Markowski, Sr., C/F, Nebraska
Cotie McMahon, Jr., F, Ohio State
Lauren Betts, Jr., C, UCLA
Kiki Rice, Jr., G, UCLA
JuJu Watkins, So., G, USC (unanimous)
Kiki Iriafen, Gr., F, USC
Serah Williams, Jr., F, Wisconsin

2024-25 Media Preseason Player of the Year
JuJu Watkins, So., USC

2024-25 Media Big Ten Preseason Rankings
1. USC
2. UCLA
3. Ohio State
4. Maryland
5. Indiana

MORE: ‘A Lot of Game-Time Decisions’ Will Shape Nebraska’s Lineup vs. Purdue

MORE: Nebraska Volleyball to Give Husker Fans John Cook Bobbleheads During UCLA Match

MORE: Purdue Football No Longer a Giant Killer

MORE: Nebraska Volleyball Preview: UCLA & No. 20 USC

MORE: Keys to Victory: Nebraska vs. Purdue


Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.


Published
Kaleb Henry

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.