SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Vanderbilt women’s basketball senior Aalyah Del Rosario was named to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award preseason watch list, part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Starting 5 awards, on Friday afternoon.
It is the second time that Del Rosario has earned a spot on the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award preseason watch list, as she was also selected last season. The 6-6 has appeared in 86 career collegiate games, with 21 games played in her first season at Vanderbilt in 2025-26. Her 86 appearances at the collegiate level are the second most on the 2026-27 Commodore roster.
Fan voting for the Naismith Basketball Starting 5 opens Friday. Fans can vote by clicking the link here. Players can play their way onto and off any Naismith Starting 5 list during the 2026-27 season.
Del Rosario is the second Commodore to be named to a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Starting 5 preseason watch list this week, as Mikayla Blakes was selected to the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award preseason watch list on Tuesday.
The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, native came to Vanderbilt after a two-year stint at LSU, where she helped the Tigers reach the Elite 8 in each of the last two seasons and was an All-SEC freshman team selection in 2023-24.
Del Rosario is the first player in program history to hail from the Dominican Republic. Standing at 6-6, she is the tallest player to suit up for Vanderbilt under sixth-year head coach Shea Ralph, while the center is the tallest Commodore since 6-6 Emily Bowman played for the Dores in 2020-21.
Known for her efficient shooting, Del Rosario carries a career 50.3 percent field goal percentage. Her accuracy from the floor was on display during her first season with the Commodores, shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
A 2023 McDonald’s All-American, Del Rosario was a 5-star prospect and ranked as the No. 7 player in the Class of 2023 by HoopGurlz/espnW coming out of The Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. She is the highest-rated player in the HoopGurlz/espnW rankings that Vanderbilt has brought into the program.
The 2026-27 Vanderbilt women's basketball season begins Nov. 2, as the No. 8/9-ranked Commodores host Lipscomb at Memorial Gymnasium for Education Day. Tipoff against the Bisons is set for 11 a.m. CT and streams on SEC Network+.
All Commodore women’s basketball games can be heard locally on 94.9 The Fan and digitally on the Vanderbilt Athletics app throughout the 2026-27 season.
Fans can click the link here to purchase season tickets. Single-game tickets and 4-pack ticket specials are also on sale.
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