KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced a new Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week award winner for week four of the 2025-26 season. Washburn’s Yiibari Nwidadah was named the MIAA Athlete of the Week for the Ichaobods’ first weekly honor of the season.
 
MIAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Yiibari Nwidadah, Washburn
Yiibari Nwidadah helped lead Washburn to an undefeated week at home as the Ichabods collected their first MIAA wins of the season against Nebraska Kearney and No. 3-ranked Fort Hays State. The senior center totaled 39 points for 19.5 points per game on 16-of-27 (59.3 percent) shooting. She added 17 rebounds (8.5 rebounds per game) along with four blocks and three steals, controlling the Ichabods’ defensive end as well. In the 67-64 win over the previously unbeaten Tigers, the Nwidadah scored a team-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double with a block and a steal as well.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Sadie Maas, Northwest Missouri
Sadie Maas put together back-to-back double-double performances as Northwest opened MIAA play with victories over Missouri Western and Emporia State. The sophomore forward averaged 13.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor. Maas secured 12 points and 12 rebounds in a 62-48 road win at Missouri Western, then tallied 14 points and 10 boards in a 77-69 overtime triumph at home against Emporia State.
 
Macey Gandee, Emporia State
Macey Gandee averaged 17.0 points on 63.6 percent shooting with 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game last week. She had 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting with a career-high five blocks in the Hornets’ overtime loss at Northwest Missouri. She had four points and three blocks as ESU outscored the Bearcats 20-10 in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Gandee then scored a career-high 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting with six rebounds, a career high five rebounds and two blocks in the Hornets’ 69-59 win over Missouri Western. She is averaging 14.3 points on .613 shooting and 7.0 rebounds over her last six games.
 
Nariah Clay, Missouri Southern
Nariah Clay led the Lions offense for the second consecutive week, averaging 20.0 points per game as Missouri Southern defeated Rogers State and Central Oklahoma in the first MIAA contests of the season. The redshirt sophomore had 18 points on 50 percent shooting in the 84-67 win over the Hillcats before adding 22 points in the 75-57 win over the Bronchos. On the week, Clay was 8-of-14 (57 percent) from behind the arc and added an 8-of-9 (89 percent) performance at the free throw line. She also collected nine rebounds in the contests.
 
ALSO NOMINATED:
Reese Schaaf [Central Missouri], Marin Adams [Pittsburg State], Saniya Simmons [Nebraska Kearney], McKenzie Smith [Northeastern State], Kaitlyn McCarn [Central Oklahoma], Talexa Weeter [Fort Hays State]  
 
2025-26 MIAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
WEEK ONE: Talexa Weeter, Fort Hays State
WEEK TWO: Kaitlyn Sanders, Emporia State
WEEK THREE: Talexa Weeter, Fort Hays State
WEEK FOUR: Yiibari Nwidadah, Washburn