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The Ole Miss women’s basketball team has made waves, landing at No. 17 in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll. As Coach Yo and her squad dive deeper into SEC play, all eyes are on standout senior forward Latas Lattimore, recently named to the 2026 Naismith Women’s College Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.
Lattimore is one of just 25 athletes recognized, potentially making history as the first Rebel to earn this honor in 51 years. With 45 blocks this season—averaging 2.1 per game—she ranks third in the conference and 21st nationally. Her defensive consistency is unmatched; she’s recorded at least one block in 12 consecutive games, a streak not seen since Dominique Banks’ 19-game run in 2019-2020.
This season alone, she has registered three or more blocks in eight games, a feat last seen from Rita Igbokwe in 2022-23. Notably, Lattimore achieved a career-high six blocks against Mississippi Valley State and followed up with five against Texas—making her the player with the most blocks against the Horns this season.
Not only does she excel defensively, but she also contributes significantly on offense, averaging 10.2 points with an impressive 49.7% shooting percentage. This dual-threat ability makes her a valuable asset on the court, and people are taking notice indeed.
The No. 17 Rebels are set to face off against No. 5 Vanderbilt at home. However, keep an eye on with continued inclement weather changes that might be coming. The next matchup against Auburn has been rescheduled to Monday, February 2nd, at The Pavilion.