ATLANTA – Announced on Tuesday by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Sydney Shelton was selected as a member of the 2025-26 class of the WBCA Thirty Under 30. 

Shelton just concluded her fourth season on Lauren Sumski's staff after a three-year playing career with the Bisons. Prior to the 2024-25 season, she added Recruiting Coordinator to her list of duties. 

Since she joined the Bisons staff, she has been a part of one of the best runs in the program's Division I history. With 67 wins, the team has posted two seasons of 20 wins, matching the Division I record, and participated in the Women's National Invitation Tournament in 2025.  

Along with working on the traditional Xs and Os, she has taken on a player development role in the program, helping student-athletes with character development, academic achievement, and career readiness. 

"The past four seasons have been the winningest stretch in our program's history since we have been in the D-I level, and Sydney is a huge part of that. She brings a contagious joy and passion for teaching and developing young people through the game of basketball," said Lauren Sumski. 

"She is a tremendous coach, but she's an even better person. She elevates everyone around her, and she's the ultimate teammate. I am thrilled to see her earn national recognition for all she gives to our program and the coaching community as a whole. We are extremely grateful that she is a Bison, and we hope we can keep her on our sidelines for many seasons to come!"

Since she moved up to the coaching ranks, Shelton has been involved in many professional association initiatives, including a graduate of a "So You Want to Be a Coach" program.

In addition to her duties with the Bisons, she has taken on mentorship roles in our local Nashville community, where she volunteers to serve at-risk youth.

Shelton was part of a Lipscomb 2026 squad that set the program record for blocks in a season. 

The 2025 season saw the program win 20 games and reach a postseason tournament for the first time since 2004, participating in the WNIT.

In addition, the 2025 Bisons set new program records in scoring, field goals made, attempts and field goal percentage.

Before moving to the coaching ranks, she spent the 2020-2022 seasons with Sumski as a player. Playing in 108 career games for the Bisons, she totaled 325 points and grabbed 117 rebounds. 

"Congratulations to these coaches who have distinguished themselves so early in their careers," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "The WBCA is pleased to recognize this up-and-coming talent in our coaching family. 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 special recognition program was established to honor 30 of the up-and-coming women's basketball coaches age 30 and under in the sport at all levels of the game.

This is the 11th year of the WBCA Thirty Under 30 program.

About the WBCA
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.