Alabama State's Taliah Wickett Named SWAC Woman Of The Year

The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Alabama State’s Taliah Wickett its 2024-25 SWAC Woman of the Year.

A standout student-athlete, last season Wickett was a key contributor for the Alabama State Lady Hornets Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field teams.

For her efforts Wickett was selected as a member of the 2025 All-SWAC First Team while claiming first place finishes at the 2025 SWAC Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 800 meter.

Off the track she was also an exemplary ambassador for the university excelling athletically, academically and within the local community.

“My journey hasn’t been easy transferring schools, adjusting to new environments, and juggling multiple responsibilities, but every challenge has made me stronger,” said Wickett.

“I’ve learned how to lead with grace, stay focused under pressure, and lift others as I climb. These experiences have empowered me to not only envision a better world, but to actively work toward it on my campus, in my community, and beyond.”

Wickett will now be nominated by the Conference Office for the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

The NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, community service and leadership.

The Woman of the Year Selection Committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division — from the conference-level nominees. The Top 30 honorees will be announced later this year. From there, the selection committee will narrow the pool to three finalists from each division.

The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will select the 2025 Woman of the Year from the nine finalists and will be celebrated at the Woman of the Year Award Presentation at the 2026 NCAA Convention in Washington D.C.

About the SWAC

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams. Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.

Previous SWAC coverage:

2025 SWAC Preseason Players Of The Year And All-Conference Teams Revealed

The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2025 Preseason All-SWAC Football selections on Monday morning.

The Preseason All-SWAC Football selections were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Jackson State’s Jacobian Morgan was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Southern’s Ckelby Givens was tabbed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Morgan led his team to the 2024 HBCU National Championship while being named Offensive MVP of Celebration Bowl last season. He finished the regular season with 2,051 yards on 150-of-234 passing in 13 games and a 10-1 record as a starter, with his only loss coming in the Tigers’ season opener.

Givens leads the nation and the league in tackles for loss (26.5) and was a key contributor for a Southern Jaguars team that claimed the 2024 SWAC West Division title with a 7-1 conference record. He ranked eighth in the nation in sacks while ranking second in the league in that category.

2025 Preseason SWAC Football Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State

Defensive Player of the Year: Ckelby Givens, Southern

2025 Preseason All-SWAC Football Team Selections

All-SWAC First Team Offense

Quarterback: Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State

Running Back: Jacorian Sewell, Alcorn State

Running Back: Thad Franklin Jr., Florida A&M

Offensive Lineman: D'Andre Townes-Blue, Jackson State

Offensive Lineman: Charles Davis, Florida A&M

Offensive Lineman: Ashton Grable, Florida A&M

Offensive Lineman: Ronald Brown, Alcorn State

Offensive Lineman: Desmond Daniels, Alabama State

Wide Receiver: Nate Rembert, Jackson State

Wide Receiver: Joanes Fortilien, Jackson State

Tight End: Marvin Landy, Jackson State

All-SWAC First Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Ckelby Givens, Southern

Defensive Lineman: Jeremiah Williams, Jackson State

Defensive Lineman: Bryce Cage, Grambling State

Defensive Lineman: Davion Westmoreland, Florida A&M

Linebacker: Stemarion Edwards, Alcorn State

Linebacker: Vincent Paige Jr., Southern

Linebacker: Nay'Ron Jenkins, Florida A&M

Defensive Back: Keane Lewis, Alabama State

Defensive Back: Antwone Watts, Bethune-Cookman

Defensive Back: TJ Huggins, Florida A&M

Defensive Back: Horacio Johnson, Southern

All-SWAC First Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Gerardo Baeza, Jackson State

Punter: Johnny Schifano, Grambling State

Return Specialist: Travis Terrell Jr., Jackson State

All-SWAC Second Team Offense

Quarterback: Cam Ransom, Bethune-Cookman

Running Back: Lamagea McDowell, Prairie View A&M

Running Back: BJ Curry, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Offensive Lineman: Quaveon Davis, Jackson State

Offensive Lineman: Cameron Smith, Alabama State

Offensive Lineman: Tahj Martin, Grambling State

Offensive Lineman: Dezmond Penn, Alabama State

Offensive Lineman: Tyrell Lawrence, Alabama A&M

Wide Receiver: Maleek Huggins, Bethune-Cookman

Wide Receiver: Trenton Leary, Texas Southern

Tight End: Dupree Fuller, Southern

All-SWAC Second Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Damarcus Thompson, Texas Southern

Defensive Lineman: Adrian Hall, Bethune-Cookman

Defensive Lineman: James Gardner Jr., Florida A&M

Defensive Lineman: Nick Glenn, Alabama A&M

Linebacker: Reid Pulliam, Jackson State

Linebacker: Ashton Taylor, Jackson State

Linebacker: Malik Stinnett, Bethune-Cookman

Defensive Back: Shamar Hawkins, Jackson State

Defensive Back: Blake Davis, Grambling State

Defensive Back: Herman Brister III, Southern

Defensive Back: Jameel Sanders, Florida A&M

All-SWAC Second Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Trey Glymph, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Punter: Jeremy Ramirez, Texas Southern