By: Clint Neumann
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The postseason accolades are in, and the University of Sioux Falls women's basketball program is once again represented among the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's best.
Sophomore guard Anna Vaaler earned NSIC First Team All-Conference honors, while freshman center Krista Langager was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year and a Second Team All-Conference selection, capping standout seasons for both Cougars. This is the third consecutive season that USF has had the freshman of the year (Kami Wadsworth, 2023-24 & Alexis Rose, 2024-25).
The honors come following a 2025-26 campaign that saw Sioux Falls finish 13-16 overall and 10-12 in NSIC play, concluding the season with a 77-65 road loss at St. Cloud State.
Vaaler Leads the Way
Anna Vaaler, a 5-10 sophomore guard from Andover, Minn., stepped into a starring role this winter and delivered one of the most complete seasons in the league.
Vaaler averaged 16.9 points per game in conference play, ranking among the NSIC's top five in scoring. She also pulled down 7.6 rebounds per contest to lead the Cougars on the glass, doing much of her work on the defensive end to close out possessions. She started all 22 NSIC games and reached double figures in 20 of them, showcasing remarkable consistency from November through February.
When the moment demanded poise, Vaaler answered. She shot 85.2 percent (46-of-54) from the free throw line in league action, repeatedly coming through in late-game situations. She also knocked down 32.2 percent of her attempts from beyond the arc and finished the conference slate shooting 37.3 percent from the field overall. Her six double-doubles on the season highlighted her ability to impact the game on both ends.
Head coach Travis Traphagen credited Vaaler for embracing an expanded role during the heart of conference play.
"Anna was in the top five in scoring and rebounding. She had a really good year leading us in scoring after Kami got hurt. Teams threw multiple looks at her defensively to try to slow her down, so I'm very proud of her efforts."
With her First Team selection, Vaaler establishes herself as one of the premier guards in the NSIC heading into her junior season.
Langager's Freshman Breakthrough
If Vaaler was the steady force on the perimeter, Krista Langager was the dominant presence inside.
The 6-2 freshman from Sisseton, S.D., started all 22 conference games and averaged 18.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in NSIC play, totaling 398 points and 161 rebounds. She shot an eye-popping 64.0 percent from the field, leading the conference in field goal percentage while ranking among the top scorers in the league.
Langager scored 20 or more points in 11 conference contests, including a 30-point performance at Southwest Minnesota State. She poured in 26 points against Concordia-St. Paul and followed it with 28 against Winona State in back-to-back February outings. In 16 of 22 conference games, she shot 60 percent or better from the floor, a testament to her efficiency and presence in the paint.
She added five double-doubles in league play, along with 20 blocks and 12 steals, proving she was more than just a scoring threat. Her 72 offensive rebounds underscored her relentless motor on the glass.
"Krista had an amazing freshman year," Traphagen said. "After Kami got hurt, we were unsure of the direction we would be headed. Krista stepped up very early in the year and took over some of the scoring load that was left with Kami's absence. For a kid to lead the conference in field goal percentage, was high on the offensive rebounding average, and to put up the points she did, that's as good of a freshman campaign I can remember in this league."
Her impact was recognized across the conference, earning both Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on the All-NSIC Second Team.
Around the NSIC
The NSIC also announced its specialty award winners, highlighting another competitive year in the league.
Bergan Kinnebrew of the University of Mary was named the NSIC North Division Player of the Year, while Minnesota State's Natalie Bremer earned NSIC South Division Player of the Year honors. Minnesota State's Hannah Herzig was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year, and Emilee Thiesse was named NSIC Coach of the Year after guiding the Mavericks to the regular-season championship.
Full NSIC All-Conference teams and specialty award winners can be found HERE.
With Vaaler and Langager earning major recognition, Sioux Falls continues to demonstrate its ability to develop high-level talent in one of the nation's toughest Division II conferences.
Season in Review
Despite battling adversity, including key injuries during conference play, the Cougars remained competitive throughout the winter. Sioux Falls finished 13-16 overall and 10-12 in NSIC action, securing a spot in the conference tournament before their season concluded on the road.
With a First Team sophomore guard and the league's Freshman of the Year anchoring the lineup, the foundation for the future remains strong inside the Stewart Center.
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