NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Bethel College women's basketball standout Kendall Locke has been named one of three finalists for the 2026 Greater Wichita Sports Commission College Female Athlete of the Year Award, recognizing her outstanding accomplishments during the 2025-26 academic year.

Kendall found herself amongst the leaders in nearly all of the major statistical category as she led the Threshers in scoring during the '25-'26 season at 18.2 ppg, the third best mark in the conference. The junior also found herself top 5 in rebounds as she averaged 7.2 per contest. With 104 steals, Locke notched the second highest tally in the KCAC. She led the conference in assists at 199, nearly 6.5 per contest and was third in blocks with 54.

Locke set school records for a season in steals (104), field goals made (224), assists (199) and points (565). She also set single game records of assists with 15 against Evangel and steals with 10 against Bethany. Kendall also notched herself in the career record book, as the junior reached 473 assists and 232 steals, both the top mark of the category.

Locke joins Friends University's Tiyna Ridge and Wichita State University's Kinzey Woody as finalists for the prestigious award, which will be presented during the 28th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 25 at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita.

The Greater Wichita Sports Banquet honors the top amateur and professional athletes from across the region. Finalists are selected through a nomination process involving area athletic directors, with voting conducted by members of the local media.

Locke's selection as a finalist highlights a remarkable season for the Threshers and adds to an already impressive list of accomplishments throughout her collegiate career. Her impact on the court, leadership within the program, and commitment to excellence have helped elevate Bethel women's basketball on both the conference and national stages.

The College Female Athlete of the Year category recognizes the top female student-athletes competing at colleges and universities throughout the Greater Wichita area. Locke's inclusion among the finalists places her among the region's elite collegiate athletes and reflects the respect she has earned from coaches, administrators, and media members alike.

The winners of the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet awards will be announced during the ceremony on June 25. In addition to recognizing outstanding athletes, the banquet will honor coaches, community leaders, and inductees into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame.

For more information on the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet, visit the Wichita Sports Commission website.