Denison’s Taute and Cooch Earn Academic All-America Honors
Denison University just hit a new high. Juniors Ada Taute and Abby Cooch from the women’s basketball team have landed spots on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® teams for the 2025-26 season.
This recognition really shows off their skills, both on the court and in the classroom. Taute and Cooch played huge roles in leading Denison to its first-ever NCAA National Championship—a massive moment for the school’s athletic program.
The Rise of Ada Taute: From Injury to Excellence
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Ada Taute’s story is honestly pretty inspiring. She’s from Chicago, Illinois, and after an injury-filled sophomore year, she came back in 2025 and lit up the scoreboard as Denison’s leading scorer with 446 points.
Key Achievements of Ada Taute
Taute really made a difference for Denison. Here are some of her standout moments:
- Leading Scorer: Put up 446 points in the 2025 season.
- Defensive Prowess: Racked up 69 steals to lead the team.
- NCAC First-Team Selection: Started every one of the 32 games, averaged 13.9 points per game, and ranked sixth in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC).
- All-American Honors: Named 2025-26 WBCA DIII Coaches’ First-Team All-American and D3hoops.com Second-Team All-American.
Her well-rounded game helped stretch the floor and powered the Big Red to their very first NCAA Title. You can really see her resilience and love for the sport in every play.
Abby Cooch: A Historic Season for the Junior Guard
Abby Cooch, a junior guard from Clifton, Virginia, had a season to remember. She helped drive Denison’s championship run and picked up her first Third-Team Academic All-America® selection from the College Sports Communicators.
Notable Highlights of Abby Cooch
Cooch’s year was packed with big moments, like:
- 1,000 Career Points: Hit the milestone in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
- Consistent Excellence: Three-time All-NCAC First Team honoree and 2023-24 Newcomer of the Year.
- Championship Performance: Averaged 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists throughout the NCAA tournament.
- Tournament MVP: Took home 2026 NCAA tournament MVP honors.
- All-American Recognition: Earned an Honorable Mention for the 2025-26 WBCA DIII Coaches All-American list.
Her all-around play was a game-changer for Denison’s championship push. The accolades really just show the level of work she put in.
Denison University’s Legacy of Academic and Athletic Excellence
With Taute and Cooch joining the Academic All-America® ranks, Denison keeps adding to its impressive legacy. The university now counts 132 Academic All-Americans® in its history, which says a lot about how much they value student-athletes who can do it all.
The Significance of Academic All-America® Honors
The Academic All-America® program started back in 1952 and is run by College Sports Communicators. Each year, it recognizes more than 1,400 top student-athletes across Division I, II, III, and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.
This award really highlights the importance of balancing school and sports. Denison’s track record here shows they care about both, and honestly, Taute and Cooch set a pretty high bar for anyone coming up behind them.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Denison Women’s Basketball
What Taute and Cooch have accomplished sets the tone for the whole program. Looking forward, their impact will probably stick around for a while and help shape whatever comes next.
Building on Success
That first NCAA National Championship is a huge deal for Denison, but it feels like just the beginning. The team’s drive and commitment are going to matter as they try to keep this momentum going.
Getting recognized by College Sports Communicators is a big deal for Taute and Cooch, but it’s also a win for the whole team. Their story proves that you can chase excellence in the classroom and on the court, and maybe that’s what future Denison players will aim for, too.
Conclusion
Denison University just got a reason to celebrate. Ada Taute and Abby Cooch earned recognition as College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans®.
They really set the bar high, both on the court and in the classroom. Honestly, that’s what being a scholar-athlete should look like.
Denison’s first NCAA National Championship feels even bigger thanks to what Taute and Cooch brought to the table. Their names are going to stick with this accomplishment for a long time.
Want to dig deeper? Check out the full article on the Denison Big Red website.