Syracuse’s Izoje named to All-ACC 1st Team, Phelia named to 2nd Team
Center Uche Izoje was named to the First Team, while guard Laila Phelia followed with a Second Team nod. Matthew Crisafulli | Staff Photographer
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Syracuse saw two players named to the 2026 All-Atlantic Coast Conference teams, the conference announced Tuesday. Freshman center Uche Izoje headlined the group with a First Team selection, while senior guard Laila Phelia followed her with a Second Team nod.
Izoje also collected ACC All-Defensive and All-Freshman Team honors.
Despite entering the season as a relative unknown, Izoje immediately secured a spot in SU’s starting five and cemented herself as the team’s best player. She led the Orange with 15.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Her point and rebound tallies are the most among all ACC freshmen — a significant reason why she won Rookie of the Year — and she leads the conference with 2.6 blocks per game.
Phelia, meanwhile, had a remarkable bounceback season following a trying campaign at Texas. The guard dealt with a detached retina during her time in Austin, forcing her to the bench for most of the year.
After transferring to Syracuse, she rediscovered the All-Conference form she once had at Michigan. Phelia ranks second on the Orange with an average of 13.8 points per game, and her improved 3-point shooting allowed her to lead all SU starters with a 37.9% clip from deep.
Both Phelia and Izoje will play a crucial role in Syracuse’s postseason aspirations. Following a resurgent 22-win regular season, the Orange enter the ACC Tournament holding a first-round bye as the No. 7 seed.
