Boston College has a new name on its list of award contenders before the season even tips off.
Junior forward Grace Oliver was named to the 2027 Katrina McClain Award Watch List, giving the Eagles an early-season spotlight piece as she begins her first year with the program. The award, in its 10th year, goes to the top power forward in NCAA Division I women’s college basketball and is named for Katrina McClain, the two-time All-American, 1987 National Player of the Year, and Class of 2012 Hall of Famer.
Oliver arrives at Boston College after a breakout sophomore season at Wake Forest, where the Norwell, Mass., native paced the Demon Deacons with 14.3 points per game. She also shot 60.4 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from 3-point range, and 73.7 percent from the free-throw line. Those numbers put her atop the ACC in field goal percentage and inside the nation’s top 10 in that category.
Her statistical profile was even more complete than the scoring line. Oliver was one of only three players in the country to average at least 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while also shooting 60 percent from the field, 70 percent from the line, and 35 percent from beyond the arc.
Against ACC competition, she stood out again. Oliver ranked first in effective field goal percentage at 62%, second in field goal percentage at 56%, and posted a 22.3 player efficiency rating, which placed her among the top 15 in the conference.
She is one of four ACC forwards recognized by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
The watch list begins with 20 players, and fan voting opens Friday, October 30. In February, that group will be cut to 10 and then trimmed to five in March.
Those five finalists will go before Malone, McClain, and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees in late March, when the winner will be chosen. The selection committees include media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
Boston College opens the 2026-27 season Monday at 6 p.m. against Holy Cross in Conte Forum.
In Other News...
Boston College Suddenly Has A Tight End Decision That Could Matter Saturday
Boston Colleges tight end room got a little more interesting this week, with Bill OBrien confirming that Kaelan Chudzinski is available for the Week 9 trip to Duke. Chudzinski had been working back from the Achilles injury he suffered in spring practice, and his rehab has moved far enough along to give the Eagles at least a possibility of getting him back on the field for Saturday.
Still, theres no certainty yet. Chudzinski remains a game-time decision after Thursdays practice, which leaves Boston College waiting to see whether a player the staff had once expected to be out for the year can actually help in a position group that has struggled. Even a limited return would matter for an Eagles offense looking for more stability and production at tight end. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Opens Hockey East Play With An Early Rivalry Test
Boston College is about to find out where it stands as Hockey East play begins with a two-game series against Northeastern at Kelley Rink. The Eagles enter league action at 1-3-1 and still sitting at No. 20 in the USA Hockey poll, while the Huskies arrive with a 2-1-0 mark and the usual edge that comes with a rivalry game so early in the conference slate.
For BC, the opening weekend matters beyond the standings because it offers a chance to reset after a uneven start and start building momentum in front of a home crowd. The schedule gets busy quickly from here, and with broadcast coverage already lined up, this series has the feel of an early tone-setter for a team looking to steady itself before Hockey East starts to sort out in earnest. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Hockey Is Gaining Serious International Attention
Boston College hockey keeps turning heads well beyond Chestnut Hill, and now junior forward Teddy Stiga is headed onto an international stage. The U.S. Collegiate Selects have added Stiga to their roster for the 2026 Spengler Cup, a notable nod for a program that continues to send talent into high-level competition. The tournament runs Dec. 26 to 31 in Davos, Switzerland, and the Selects group is built around 25 student-athletes from NCAA Division I conferences.
Stiga will be part of a roster that is still taking shape in the coming months, but the Boston College connection is already clear. With one Eagles player already on the team, the program has a chance to be represented strongly in a tournament with international visibility and a long history. For a BC roster that has spent the fall drawing attention on the ice, this is another sign that the Eagles are being watched far beyond the college hockey map. [Read more 🡒]