DALLAS, Texas – FIU Women's Basketball has been honored with two players earning selections in the 2025-26 CUSA Women's Basketball All-Conference Awards, highlighted by Rhema Collins winning Conference USA Player of the Year, and Parris Atkins earning All-Conference USA First Team.
Both Players had stellar seasons that led to FIU earning 12 conference wins and the two-seed in the Conference USA Basketball Championships, both of which were the highest marks FIU has ever had since joining CUSA.
The junior Collins was not just the Player of the Year, but was awarded several other accolades as well. The Bahamas native was also awarded CUSA Newcomer of the Year, as well as placed on the All-Conference USA First Team and CUSA All-Defensive Team.
It is the first time in program history FIU has had a CUSA Player of the Year. The last time a Panther won Player of the Year was in 2013 when FIU legend Jerica Coley won the Sun Belt Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
This is also the second season in a row that FIU has had a CUSA Newcomer of the Year, with Isnelle Natabou receiving the honor for her performance last season.
The guard was an immediate standout for the Panthers, ending the season top-five overall in the conference in several key categories, including scoring (17.2 points per game, 2nd in CUSA), rebounding (nine rebounds per game, 3rd in CUSA), field goal percentage (45.5%, fourth in CUSA) and blocks (1.6, tied for first in CUSA). Collins finished with double-digit scoring performances 21 times, eight of which were 20 or more points scored. The junior also had 19 games of seven or more rebounds, as well as 15 games of two or more blocks, including a career-high four blocks in a win at Sam Houston.
Collins also showed out on the national scale, ending the season with 13 double-doubles, tied for first in CUSA and 24th in the nation. She also corralled four offensive rebounds per game which marked first in CUSA and twelfth in the NCAA.
The guard's most impressive performance came in non-conference play, when Collins popped off for a career-high 40 points in an FIU victory over Georgia State. The 40 points in a game is the most any player in CUSA has scored this season, and is tied for the 17th most any player in the NCAA has put up in a game in the 2025-26 campaign.
Senior Parris Atkins was the second factor in the Panthers' dynamic one-two punch this season. The Preseason All-Conference honoree proved worthy of her selection, ending the season third in the conference in scoring with 16.7 points scored per game. The guard ended the regular season with 24 games scoring in double-figures, including nine games of 20 or more points, with her first 20-point game of the season coming at UCF.
Atkins scored a career-high 35 points in the Panthers' first game of conference-play against Missouri State, the second most points scored in any game this season in Conference USA only behind Rhema Collins' 40 point performance.
Along with her scoring prowess Atkins has been one of the Panthers' best playmakers, dishing out 2.8 assists per game against conference opponents. The guard had three or more assists three times on the season, including a career-high nine assists in a victory at Sam Houston.
The Arkansas native was a standout defender as well, seeing herself awarded on the All-CUSA Defensive Team along with Rhema Collins. Atkins placed second in CUSA with 2.9 steals per game, 22nd in NCAA. The guard ended with 15 games with three or more steals, including a career-high nine in a win over Seattle.
This is the third consecutive season that FIU has seen both superlative award winners and First Team All-CUSA honorees in the same postseason awards.
With this year's selections, the Panthers have now seen 14 individual players earn CUSA All-Conference awards under head coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley.
FULL CUSA POSTSEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
Rhema Collins, FIU, Jr., G
Defensive Player of the Year
Fanta Kone, Sam Houston, Sr., G
Newcomer of the Year
Rhema Collins, FIU, Jr., G
Freshman of the Year
Blair Baugus, MTSU, G
Sixth Player of the Year
Mary Moses Amaniyo, UTEP, So., F
Coach of the Year
Brooke Stoehr, LA Tech
All-Conference USA First Team
Parris Atkins, FIU, Sr., G
Rhema Collins, FIU, Jr., G
Avery Mills, Liberty, So., G
Emmy Stout, Liberty, So., C
Paris Bradley, LA Tech, So., G
Blair Baugus, MTSU, Fr., G
Kaemyn Bekemeier, Missouri State, Sr., G
Fanta Kone, Sam Houston, Sr., G
All-Conference USA Second Team
Ande'a Cherisier, Delaware, Jr., C
Mya Barnes, Jax State, Fifth, F
Keyarah Berry, Kennesaw State, Gr., G
Jordan Marshall, LA Tech, So., F
Jianna Morris, LA Tech, Jr., G
Alayna Contreras, MTSU, Sr., G
Laine Douglas, Missouri State, So., F
Deborah Ogayemi, Sam Houston, R-Sr., F
All-CUSA Honorable Mention
Kailah Correa, Delaware
Lay Fantroy, Delaware
Ify Nwaobi, Liberty
Alexia Weaver, LA Tech
Macie Phifer, MTSU
Imani Warren, NM State
Lucía Yenes, NM State
Portia Adams, UTEP
Salma Khedr, WKU
Trinity Rowe, WKU
CUSA All-Defensive Team
Parris Atkins, FIU, Sr., G
Rhema Collins, FIU, Jr., G
Mya Barnes, Jax State, Fifth, F
Maycee James, Missouri State, Sr., G
Fanta Kone, Sam Houston, Sr., G
CUSA All-Freshman Team
Kailah Correa, Delaware, G
Ify Nwaobi, Liberty, F
Blair Baugus, MTSU, G
Macie Phifer, MTSU, G
Maiesha Washington, Missouri State, F
UP NEXT
FIU is now locked into the two-seed in the conference tournament and will play the winner of #7 Jacksonville State and #10 UTEP on Wednesday, March 11 at 2 p.m. ET.
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