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Prestigious Wade Watch Recognition was correct

As the calendar turns to January 2, 2026, the NC State Women’s Basketball team stands at a strong 10-4, and a major force behind their success has been the outstanding play of forward Khamil Pierre. Her dominant start to the season should not go unnoticed, as she was named to the prestigious Wade Watch list before the season started. The WBCA identified her as a candidate for the 2026 Wade Trophy, presented to the best player in college women’s basketball.

Through 14 games, 13 of which she has started she has certainly lived up to the hype. Pierre is logging a significant 29.4 minutes per contest, demonstrating her crucial role for the Pack on the court. Her impact is most felt on the offensive and rebounding ends, which as of January 1st, lead the nation in D-1 rebounding. As far as her team stats go:

• Leading Scorer: Pierre is the team’s top scorer, averaging an impressive 14.8 points per game, totaling 207 points so far. Her efficiency is remarkable, shooting 51.1% from the field (93-182), which is well above the team’s overall field goal percentage. This indicates her ability to convert opportunities inside with consistency.
• Rebounding Machine: She is a dominant presence on the glass, leading the team with an incredible 12.3 rebounds per game. Her total of 172 rebounds includes a significant 53 offensive boards, showcasing her relentless effort to create second-chance opportunities for the Wolfpack. This rebounding prowess is a huge asset, contributing significantly to NC State’s overall rebounding margin. As of January 3rd, 2026, she leads the nation in D-1 rebounding.
• All-Around Contributor: Beyond scoring and rebounding, Pierre is making her presence felt across the board. She’s chipped in with 35 assists, demonstrating good court vision for a frontcourt player, and has been active defensively with 20 steals and 14 blocks. Her ability to impact the game in multiple facets makes her a truly versatile player.
• Efficiency and Reliability: Despite high usage, Pierre maintains a low turnover count, making just 12 turnovers throughout the season so far. While her free-throw percentage at 63.6% (21-33) has room for growth, it’s a solid foundation. Notably, she is not a 3-point threat, with all her scoring coming from inside the arc, fitting her role as a powerful post presence.

A Junior Among the Nation’s Elite

Being named to the Wade Watch list places Pierre in elite company. The list features other highly decorated athletes, including returning WBCA Coaches’ All-Americans Lauren Betts of UCLA, Madison Booker of Texas, Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame, and Sarah Strong of Connecticut. Booker and Hidalgo were even finalists for the 2025 Wade Trophy, highlighting the caliber of competition on this prestigious list.

As a 6-foot-2 junior forward, Pierre is a budding star. Her inclusion on a list that includes established veterans and past award winners like Betts (WBCA Defensive Player of the Year 2025) and Strong (WBCA Freshman of the Year 2025) speaks volumes about her impact and potential.

Khamil Pierre was just what Wes Moore needed to finish off the 2025-26 roster. He sometimes quotes Tennessee’s legendary coach Pat Summitt who built a dynasty on rebounding and defense, leading to multiple national championships, “offense sells tickets. Defense wins games. Rebounding wins championships”. You just know Coach Wes has this in back of his mind as he sees Pierre performance each time out.