Springfield, Mass. – April 3, 2026 – Four student-athletes from the Springfield College women's basketball program were recently named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team for their efforts on the court and in the classroom.

This year's Springfield College women's basketball recipients included Stefany Padula (Franklin, Mass.), Amanda Leary (Westbury, N.Y.), Claire Finney (Haverhill, Mass.) and Madison Lopez (Bronx, N.Y.). Leary earned the honor for the second time in her career, while Finney, Lopez and Padula are all first time recipients.

Leary, a physical education major with a 3.74 grade point average, was selected to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) second team this season. She averaged a team-high 7.2 rebounds per game and a second-best 11.5 points per game while tallying a team-high 50 steals and adding 12 blocks. Leary averaged 7.2 rebounds per game in conference play which was ninth in the NEWMAC. She also registered four double-doubles and three 20-points games including a 25-point performance with 14 rebounds to lead the Pride to a win over Colby as she was named the Naismith Classic Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Finney, a physician's assistant studies major with a 3.83 grade point average, played in a 27 games for the Pride this year and averaged 10.8 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game. Finney totaled 266 points and 86 rebounds, ranking fourth on the team in both categories, and produced a trio of 20+ point games highlighted by a 23 point effort in a 70-66 win over No. 19/22 Amherst in January. 

Lopez, a sport management major with a 3.85 grade point average, played and started in all 27 games as a sophomore. This year, Lopez averaged 6.2 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game and led the Pride with 69 assists. She totaled 167 points and 81 boards in addition to 20 steals. Lopez recorded double-digit point totals in four contests highlighted by a season-high mark of 12 against Clark University in January. She also dished out a season-high six assists in a win over nationally-ranked Amherst.

Padula, an elementary education major with a 3.94 grade point average, appeared in all 27 games for the Pride as a senior. In 432 total minutes, Padula recorded 94 points and 58 rebounds to go along with 24 assists, ten steals and five blocks. Padula registered a season-high 17 points against Babson in early January.

These four student-athletes led Springfield back to the NEWMAC Tournament Semifinals and to 16 wins capping another great year for the Pride in 2025-26 under the direction of head coach Naomi Graves.

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