ATLANTA – Indiana State assistant coach and director of player development Kietta Saunders was named a 2025-26 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Thirty Under 30 honoree, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.
 
 "The WBCA is pleased to recognize this up-and-coming talent in our coaching family," WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew said. "We celebrate their effort on the basketball court as teachers and equally applaud the extensive role they play in impacting the lives of their student-athletes."
 
The WBCA Thirty Under 30 program, presented by Morgan Stanley Global Sports and Entertainment, was created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches age 30 and under at all levels of the game. Recipients must be 30 or under as of April 1 of the current season. Nominations included community service involvement, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner and attitude, and professional association involvement, in addition to on-court coaching abilities.
 
"Morgan Stanley is proud to celebrate the outstanding young leaders recognized in the 2026 class of the WBCA Thirty Under 30 program," said John Ludwig, global sports and entertainment director, for Morgan Stanley. "These trailblazing coaches exemplify dedication, innovation, and a passion for shaping the future of women's basketball.  Their impact extends far beyond the court, inspiring the next generation of athletes and leaders.  We applaud their commitment to excellence and look forward to seeing their continued success in the sport."
 
Saunders just completed her first season as assistant coach and director of player development at Indiana State, where she helped the Sycamores to their best offensive season in nearly 20 years. Indiana State ranked among the national leaders in bench points (third, 31.8 points per game), free throws made (fourth, 17.2 per game) and free throws attempted (fourth, 23.9 per game), while playing at an up-tempo pace which ranked in the top 10 in Division I this season.
 
The Sycamores also led the MVC in offensive rebounds at 13.6 per contest, while ranking second the MVC in total rebounds at 40.0 per game. Indiana State ranked in the top 60 nationally in both offensive and total rebounds, while ranking in the top 50 nationally in scoring offense at 74.6 points per game. The Trees' 74.6 points per contest was the highest scoring average for Indiana State since the 2006-07 campaign (77.6), and marked the first time since that 2006-07 season that Indiana State ranked in the top 50 nationally in scoring.
 
Saunders played an instrumental role in the development of Indiana State's guards, which included 2026 MVC All-Tournament Team selection Tierney Kelsey. Kelsey tied the program single-game scoring record with 46 points in the quarterfinals against Murray State, a mark which ranked third in all of Division I this season and third in MVC Tournament history. She finished the season with the highest scoring average (15.6) for an Indiana State player since the 2007-08 campaign (Laura Rudolphi, 15.9) and most points (499) by a Sycamore since the 2005-06 season (Melanie Boeglin, 600). Saunders also worked with Kennedy Claybrooks, who ranked third in the MVC in assists per game this season at 4.7 and had a pair of games with double-digit assists, while each of Indiana State's guards who were part of the Sycamore rotation averaged at least six points per game this season.
 
Saunders became the first Sycamore assistant to be selected to the Thirty Under 30 list since the 2018-19 campaign, when Roman Tubner, who is currently an assistant coach at Tennessee, earned the honor. She joins Illinois State assistant Mannie Robinson as the only two MVC representatives selected. Saunders will be recognized alongside all Thirty Under 30 honorees at the 2026 Final Four in Phoenix.
 
2026 WBCA Thirty Under 30 Honorees
Rachel Balzer, Longwood
Octavia Barnes, Texas State
Maggie Berigan, McDaniel College
Daejah Bernard, Arizona State
Victor Chavarin, Sierra Pacific HS
Cydni Cole, Roanoke
Paige Corkins, American
Sydney-Anne Cottrell, Alabama
Princess Davis, North Texas
Kathleen Doyle, DePaul
Armando Dunn, WPI
Alex Frazier, Denver
Elizabeth Fruendt, Missouri
Alexa Gordon, Kent State
Shayna Gore, Youngstown State
Janelle Harrison, Ary
Jordynn Hernandez, Colorado
Terran Hoyt, Oklahoma State
Christine Mabry, Dickinson
Katelyn McCann, Bowdoin
Hannah McGlone, Winona State
Mannie Robinson, Illinois State
Ty Rozier, Fairleigh Dickinson
Caleb Samson, Syracuse
Kietta Saunders, Indiana State
Sydney Shelton, Lipscomb
Brook Swift, Johns Hopkins
Emry Tsitouris, Lenoir-Rhyne
Madi Wallace, Evangel
Meagan Woodward, Eastern Oklahoma State
Megan Yawman, Carnegie Mellon
Shelby Zoeckler, Cleveland State
 
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