VIDEO: Braelyn Wykle Interview
ATLANTA – For the third time in her storied Carson-Newman career, Braelyn Wykle is an All-American, announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association this morning.
After being named an honorable mention All-American during the 2020-21 and 2022-23 seasons, Wykle earns First-team All-American honors this season, joining Lisa Stogner the only other player in program history as a three-time winner. Wykle is the third player in program history to earn First-team All-American honors, joining Stogner and Haris Price. The guard is just one of ten players to be recognized as First-team All-American.
"This is definitely really cool," Wykle said. "It's not necessarily something I worked toward individually. Every time I get in the gym with the team or by myself, the focus is always making myself the best version that I can be to help our team be the best version that it can be."
Earlier this month, Wykle was named the All-SAC First Team for the fifth time in her career and just last week was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association first-team All-Southeast Region team for the fifth consecutive season and her third time being a first team pick.
The Greeneville, Tenn. native completes quite possibly the most outstanding and exceptional five-year career in program history, etching her name in several record books. The guard finishes her career as the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,782 career points. That scoring mark ranks second in South Atlantic Conference history and fourth all-time on the DII scoring list. Braelyn completes her career with a scoring average of 19.2, second highest ever in SAC history. In total, Wykle made 970 baskets, the most in program and SAC history on efficient 46/41/87 career splits.
"My game changed each and every year," Wykle said. "My freshman year I got a lot of open looks because I was a freshman and nobody knew who I was. Sophomore year it was more driving and getting into the lane. Then, junior year and on I've had to be more creative and then especially this year being more aggressive beyond the three-point line."
With 2,782 career points came 370 three-pointers, the most in program history achieving that mark last season. The sharp shooting from long range allowed her to finish second in SAC history and seventh all-time among DII players for threes made. In her final go around, Wykle broke the program and the SAC's single-season record for three-pointers made with 107 this season. On her senior day, she broke the program's single-season three-point mark and the single-game record for three-pointers made with 13. In that same game, Wykle scored a career-high 45 points and made 15 of her 26 shots.
"Obviously this year was something really special," Wykle said. "We got to play in the region title game for the third time in Carson-Newman history. During the Covid season we won the regular season championship and that was a great memory because we had such a good team that year. Then, junior year we won the SAC championship. Each of those teams hold a special place in my heart. But, I don't think I will ever forget my last game here in Holt Fieldhouse. It was something special, I had all of my family and friends here. It was a great memory for me."
The former SAC player of the year scored in double figures 128 times and had 71 games where she scored at least 20 points. She led her team in scoring 86 times and had 58 games where she made at least 3 three-pointers.
No player has started and played in more games in program and in SAC history than her with 145. The three-time all-region player never missed a game in her career and won 105 games in five seasons.
"I am super super competitive," Wykle said. "Coming in as a freshman, there was not a spot just handed to me. I had to go out there and earn that. I've played through a couple sick games. Like I said earlier, I just always wanted to be the best version of myself as much as possible to help the team out and being available definitely helped.
The WBCA was founded in 1981 and is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. Wykle was one of the five players from the Southeast Region to be listed as an All-American.
