BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its women's basketball postseason awards for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday, and three Saint Mary's standouts were recognized for their exceptional performances.

Freshman sensation Ayla Olson (New York Mills, Minn. / New York Mills) earned MIAC Women's Basketball Rookie of the Year honors after a dominant debut campaign. Olson averaged 17.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game in conference play, ranking among the league's top 10 in each category. She elevated her game when it mattered most, scoring 25 or more points in three of the Cardinals' final five regular-season contests to help secure a top-four seed in the MIAC Playoffs.

Olson poured in a career-high 32 points against Gustavus Adolphus College, finishing just one point shy of Brianna Nusbaum's single-game program record of 33.

She becomes the second straight Cardinal to be named MIAC Rookie of the Year, joining teammate Brianna Nusbaum, last year's 2025 recipient. It also marks the first time in program history that a Saint Mary's coach has mentored back-to-back Rookie of the Year honorees, a feat accomplished by head coach Courtney Shelton in her first two seasons at the helm.

Junior forward Kali Olson (New York Mills, Minn. / New York Mills) earned All-Conference recognition after anchoring the Cardinals' post presence all season. She averaged 9.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while recording seven double-doubles. Olson posted a career-best 25 points against Hamline and surpassed the 500-point and 500-rebound milestones this season. 

The honor marks her second career postseason accolade after receiving honorable mention recognition a year ago.

Nusbaum (Spring Lake Park, Minn. / Spring Lake Park) collected her second consecutive All-Conference selection following another record-breaking campaign. The sophomore guard averaged 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 steals, and 2.1 assists per game, helping lead the Cardinals to their best record since the 2015-16 season. She set the school's single-game scoring record earlier this year with 33 points against Grinnell College and played a pivotal role in guiding Saint Mary's to a historic postseason run.

The Cardinals now turn their attention to the national stage. Saint Mary's will compete in the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament for the first time since the 2013-14 season, opening play Friday, March 6, against Wisconsin Lutheran College at 4:45 p.m. in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The winner will advance to Saturday night's second-round matchup in Oshkosh.