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Kentucky junior hurdler Emmi Scales earned her first CSC Academic All-America honor, selected to the Third Team after a historic 2026 season that included two SEC gold medals and a 3.817 GPA in criminal justice.
Kentucky men's basketball earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award for the 2025-26 season, with guards Walker Horn and Zach Tow recognized on the NABC Honors Court for the second consecutive year.
UK men's golf adds Gabriel Hull, a standout Division II golfer from Emmanuel University, to its 2026-27 roster. Hull earned Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year honors and won the prestigious Press Thornton Future Masters championship in June.
Kentucky football single-game tickets go on sale to the public July 16, with season ticket holders receiving a presale starting July 14. The 2026 home schedule features seven games including matchups against Alabama, LSU, Vanderbilt and Florida.
Tubby Smith, who led Kentucky to the 1998 NCAA national championship in his first season and coached the Wildcats for 10 years, has been inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026.
Kentucky's baseball program dispersed across the 2026 MLB Draft as two Wildcats pitchers were selected, four signees heard their names called, and top-ranked recruit Grayson Willoughby withdrew to join the Wildcats.
Infielder Ethan Hindle announced he will return to Kentucky for his fourth season after a standout 2026 campaign, joining teammates Hudson Brown and Jayce Tharnish in declining MLB draft opportunities to continue playing for the Wildcats.
Kentucky outfielder Jayce Tharnish announced his return for his senior season after a breakout first year in the SEC, batting .351 with 84 hits and 32 stolen bases.
Kentucky pitcher Jaxon Jelkin was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies with the 135th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 MLB Draft, marking the final selection of Day 1. The Omaha native, who redshirted in 2025, went 8-3 with 106 strikeouts in his only season with the Wildcats.
University of Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell was selected 10th overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2026 MLB Draft, becoming the highest-drafted player under coach Nick Mingione and only the second Kentucky player ever picked in the top 10.
UK shortstop Tyler Bell was selected 10th overall by the Colorado Rockies, becoming the highest drafted player in the Nick Mingione era. Pitcher Jaxon Jelkin was selected 135th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth round.
UK STUNT head coach Blair Bergmann announced the hiring of Payton McHugh as an assistant coach. McHugh, a two-time national champion from Davenport University, brings significant competitive experience to Kentucky's program, which finished last season as the national runner-up.
J. Batt will begin his tenure as UK Athletics Director and CEO of Champions Blue LLC on July 28, succeeding Mitch Barnhart who retired after 24 years. Batt comes to Lexington from Michigan State, where he secured the largest single gift in college athletics history.
Kentucky football announced four new staff additions to head coach Will Stein's program, including returnee Dillon Sanders as inside linebackers coach and promoted staffer Leah Barnard as assistant director of recruiting.
Ron Mercer, a key member of Kentucky's 1996 national championship team and a former Boston Celtics first-round draft pick, was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday in Nashville as part of the 2026 class.
UK Athletics has introduced updated tailgating guidelines for the 2025 season, requiring setup to begin August 8 and all structures to be tagged with owner contact information. New safety protocols include restrictions on deep ground stakes and prohibitions near tree roots to protect underground utilities.
Former University of Kentucky goalkeeper Marz Josephson has signed a professional contract with defending Gainbridge Super League champion Lexington Sporting Club after starring for the Wildcats across two seasons.
Eleven Kentucky Wildcats are participating in the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas from July 9-19, spread across rosters with four teams competing on opening night.
Kentucky's athletic department placed 27th out of 365 Division I schools in the 2025-26 Directors' Cup standings, extending its streak of top-10-percent finishes to 14 consecutive years with 16 of 23 varsity teams reaching NCAA championships.
Former UK star Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream has been named a reserve for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, her fourth All-Star selection in five seasons.
Three University of Kentucky golf alumni—J.B. Holmes, Cooper Musselman and Jansen Preston—will compete in the ISCO Championship at Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville this week, with Holmes returning as an accomplished PGA Tour veteran and Preston making his professional tour debut.
Kentucky women's basketball coach Kenny Brooks addressed media during early summer workouts, calling his 2026-27 squad a "national championship group" while emphasizing three-point shooting improvements and highlighting key offseason additions including Slovenian guard Ajša Sivka.
Kentucky softball signed two-way player Addyson Frye, a freshman from Providence College who compiled six pitching wins and 59 strikeouts while maintaining a perfect fielding record during the 2026 season.
UK Athletics will take over SEC Network on Wednesday, July 8, with 24 hours of exclusive Wildcat programming featuring classic games and highlights from across the university's athletic programs.
UK gymnast Delaynee Rodriguez earned Second Team honors on the 2025-26 CSC Academic All-America Women's At-Large Team with a perfect 4.0 GPA, capping a standout 2026 season that saw her achieve All-America status for the first time.
The University of Kentucky Athletics Department placed 145 first-year student-athletes on the SEC Academic Honor Roll, continuing the program's streak of maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA for 28 straight semesters.
Kentucky women's soccer announced its 2026 schedule, featuring the return of the Louisville rivalry for the first time in eight years and matches against eight teams that participated in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. All home matches at the Bell Soccer Complex will be free to the public.
The University of Kentucky placed 124 student-athletes on the 2026 SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll, with the STUNT team leading all programs with 47 selections. All 23 varsity programs achieved a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.
University of Kentucky Athletics announced a multiyear partnership with Hoot App, Inc., a location-based social platform that connects fans at the same event in real-time. The Big Blue Nation Canopy will debut in Fall 2026, featuring tools for fans to discover gameday energy, share experiences, receive location-based deals and connect with fellow fans.
Six University of Kentucky football players earned All-SEC recognition for the 2026 season, led by offensive lineman Lance Heard on the second team and defensive back Ty Bryant on the third team.
The University of Kentucky Athletics named six individuals to its 2026 Hall of Fame class, including former basketball star Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and women's swimmer Asia Seidt, the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year.
Washington transfer Zoom Diallo has quickly established himself as Kentucky's starting point guard, impressing coaches and teammates with his leadership and playmaking during early summer practices. The 6-foot-4 sophomore committed to the Wildcats in April after Mark Pope called him immediately when the transfer portal opened.
Kentucky football announced its 2026 home promotional schedule Thursday, revealing themed fan activations for all seven Kroger Field games under first-year coach Will Stein, including a White Out for the opener against Youngstown State and specialty events for matchups against Alabama, LSU, and Louisville.
McKenzie Godfrey, an incoming University of Kentucky women's soccer freshman, has been called up to the U.S. U-18 Youth National Team Training Camp in Georgia, where she will compete for a spot on the roster for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland.
Former Kentucky guard Otega Oweh was selected 41st overall by the Miami Heat in the 2026 NBA Draft and traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he will join two other former Wildcats.
Jayden Quaintance became the highest draft pick under Kentucky coach Mark Pope when the San Antonio Spurs selected him 20th overall on June 23, making him Pope's first first-round selection in his tenure as Wildcats coach.
Kentucky forward Jayden Quaintance was selected 20th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, becoming the first Wildcat chosen despite playing in only four games this season due to a lingering knee injury.
The University of Kentucky gymnastics team announced its 2027 home schedule, featuring five regular season meets including non-conference opponent Ohio State and SEC rivals LSU, Auburn, Arkansas and Alabama, all held at Historic Memorial Coliseum.
Seven University of Kentucky STUNT athletes earned All-American honors from the College STUNT Coaches Association, with six earning first-team selections as the Wildcats finished as the Division I national runner-up for the fourth consecutive year.
The Kentucky Wildcats men's soccer team released its 2026 fall schedule featuring 18 matches, including a Sun Belt Conference slate and marquee matchups against arch-rival Louisville and other Power Five opponents.
UK sophomore golfer Gavin Clutts was named to the SEC Community Service Team for his work mentoring youth, coaching golf at Lexington Country Club, and volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Operation Christmas Child.
University of Kentucky women's golfer Raleygh Simpson has been named to the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team after logging more than 80 hours of volunteer work with local organizations.
Kentucky volleyball has finalized its non-conference schedule with the 2026 Bluegrass Battle at Historic Memorial Coliseum from Aug. 28-30, featuring matchups against Utah State, South Florida, and Eastern Kentucky.
The University of Kentucky women's basketball team received its 2026-27 SEC conference schedule, featuring eight home games and eight away games with Tennessee as the sole home-and-away opponent.
University of Kentucky junior Eli Stephenson earned selection to the 2026 ITF College Accelerator Program after ranking No. 26 in the final ITA Singles Rankings, capping a breakout season that included 14 wins over ranked opponents.
Kentucky alumni Jack Schoenberger and J.B. Holmes both qualified for the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, with Schoenberger making his major championship debut and Holmes returning after a seven-year absence.
Kentucky announced seven home nonconference basketball games for 2026-27, including a season opener against Manhattan. The roster will feature five returning players and a notable group of six transfers led by Iowa State's elite 3-point shooter Milan Momcilovic.
J Batt, a nationally recognized fundraiser who previously led athletics at Michigan State and Georgia Tech, has been named director of UK Athletics and CEO of Champions Blue LLC, succeeding retiring longtime athletic director Mitch Barnhart.
Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals. The former University of Kentucky standout becomes the 19th Wildcat to win an NBA title.
The Kentucky Wildcats concluded their 2026 outdoor track and field season at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, with Julia Gunnell achieving the second-highest heptathlon score in school history and several athletes earning All-America honors.
Kentucky sophomore Collins Kiprop Kipngok finished fourth in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, earning five points for the Wildcats on day three of competition.
Four Kentucky track and field athletes advanced to NCAA Championship finals Thursday, led by junior Emmi Scales in the 100-meter hurdles and sophomore Janet Jepkemboi Amimo in the 800 meters. The 4x400-meter relay team also qualified for Saturday's final.
Four Kentucky football players earned preseason All-SEC honors from Phil Steele's magazine, led by tight end Willie Rodriguez and center Coleton Price on the second team, as new coach Will Stein prepares for his debut season.
Maddyn Greenway of Providence Academy has been named the 2025-26 MaxPreps Female National Athlete of the Year after winning 13 state championships and becoming Minnesota's all-time leading scorer in basketball.
Kentucky sophomore Collins Kiprop Kipngok advanced to the NCAA steeplechase final by winning his semifinal with a season-best 8:24.39 on the opening day of the championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 10.
The SEC announced Kentucky football's 2026 kickoff times and television designations, featuring at least four consecutive night conference games. The schedule opens Sept. 5 against Youngstown State and concludes Nov. 28 against Louisville under new head coach Will Stein.
University of Kentucky women's golf has signed transfer Isabella Johnson, the 2025 Tennessee Women's Player of the Year from Middle Tennessee State, who will join the Wildcats as a junior for the 2026-27 season.
Kentucky assistant coach Mikhail McLean has been named head coach of The Bahamas National Team, beginning with World Cup qualifying games in July. He will retain his position with the Wildcats while leading the Caribbean nation.
University of Kentucky women's basketball signed Florida transfer Me'Arah O'Neal, a 6-4 forward and daughter of Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, as a junior. O'Neal averaged 13.6 points and 6.4 rebounds last season for the Gators.
Kentucky women's basketball signed transfer guard Jemma Amoore, the younger sister of former UK standout Georgia Amoore, as a junior for the 2026-27 season.
The University of Kentucky sent 22 athletes to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, featuring standout performers including SEC champion Emmi Scales and SEC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year Kemarah Howard.
Kentucky freshman Nicolas Arseneault was named the 2026 ITA Ohio Valley Region Rookie of the Year, marking the third consecutive year a Wildcat freshman has won the award. Arseneault finished his debut season with a 16-11 singles record and earned All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell and pitcher Jaxon Jelkin earned ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I First-Team Midwest All-Region honors Tuesday, recognition that makes them eligible for All-America selection.
The University of Kentucky announced the death of defensive lineman Nic "Happy" Smith, a 20-year-old redshirt freshman from Loganville, Georgia, who was found dead in a residence hall Monday morning. An initial investigation indicated no foul play was involved.
Kentucky freshman Kemarah Howard won the SEC Women's Freshman Field Athlete of the Year award after sweeping conference high jump titles indoors and outdoors in 2026.
More than 40 University of Kentucky baseball alumni are currently competing in professional baseball in 2026, including Major League Baseball players and coaches like Collin Cowgill and Taylor Rogers.
Star first baseman Hudson Brown announced he will return to Kentucky baseball for the 2027 season, declining to enter the 2026 MLB Draft. The redshirt sophomore batted .333 with 12 doubles and seven home runs this season despite missing time due to mononucleosis.
Milan Momcilovic, the nation's leading 3-point shooter at 48.7 percent last season from Iowa State, has signed with Kentucky basketball. The 6-foot-8 forward, ranked among the top transfers available, becomes the sixth transfer addition for coach Mark Pope's second season.
The University of Kentucky announced a partnership with Compass Group to significantly reduce game day concession prices at Kroger Field and other athletics venues, with core items priced at $5 or less beginning this football season.
Kentucky will travel to Virginia on Dec. 2 for an SEC/ACC Challenge game, marking the first meeting between the programs since 2002 at the Maui Invitational.
Kentucky women's basketball will host Clemson in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Dec. 3 at Rupp Arena, reuniting coach Kenny Brooks with former Virginia Tech assistant Shawn Poppie in the Tigers' head coaching role.
Former Kentucky catcher Devin Burkes and pitcher Ryder Giles have joined the Wildcats' baseball program staff as the team continues to build on its historic 2024 College World Series run under Coach Nick Mingione.
Kentucky football mini-pack tickets for the 2026 season are now on sale, offering fans flexible options starting at $136 for three-game packages and rising to $252 for five-game options featuring marquee matchups against Florida and Louisville.
Five University of Kentucky baseball players — Ben Cleaver, Leighton Harris, Nate Harris, Luke Lawrence and Jayce Tharnish — were named to the College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District team, with Lawrence and Tharnish advancing to All-America voting.
All five members of Kentucky women's golf's NCAA Championship team, including three sophomores and two juniors, have committed to returning for the 2026-27 season under coach Golda Borst.
Kentucky's baseball season ended in heartbreak Monday as West Virginia walked off with a 6-5, 10-inning victory in the Morgantown Regional final, despite the Wildcats staging a dramatic comeback from a four-run deficit.
Kentucky women's basketball has announced its rivalry matchup with Louisville will take place December 9 at Rupp Arena, marking the 62nd meeting between the two programs in what is the first scheduled game for the 2026-27 season.
West Virginia's five-run ninth inning rally gave the Mountaineers an 11-9 victory over Kentucky, forcing a winner-take-all game Monday night in the Morgantown Regional.