ATLANTA (Feb. 10, 2021) — The WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Selection Committee has added six additional student-athletes to the “Wade Watch” list of candidates for the 2020 Wade Trophy, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
Joining the preseason list of 33 Wade Trophy hopefuls are Kierstan Bell of Florida Gulf Coast, Grace Berger of Indiana, Dyaisha Fair of Buffalo, Anastasia Hayes of Middle Tennessee, Haley Jones of Stanford, and Natasha Mack of Oklahoma State.
The Wade Trophy — now in its 44th year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
The WBCA will announce the four finalists for the honor in mid-March. The winner of the 2021 Wade Trophy will be announced in April.
Here is the complete 39-member 2020-21 “Wade Watch” list:
Name |
Institution |
Position |
Height |
Current Year |
Janelle Bailey |
North Carolina |
C |
6-4 |
Sr. |
Kierstan Bell |
Florida Gulf Coast |
G |
6-1 |
So. |
Grace Berger |
Indiana |
G |
6-0 |
Jr. |
Aliyah Boston |
South Carolina |
F |
6-5 |
So. |
Jessika Carter |
Mississippi State |
F/C |
6-5 |
Jr. |
Charli Collier |
Texas |
F/C |
6-5 |
Jr. |
Zia Cooke |
South Carolina |
G |
5-9 |
So. |
Elissa Cunane |
NC State |
C |
6-5 |
Jr. |
Rennia Davis |
Tennessee |
G/F |
6-2 |
Sr. |
Chelsea Dungee |
Arkansas |
G |
5-11 |
RS Sr. |
Dana Evans |
Louisville |
G |
5-6 |
Sr. |
Dyaisha Fair |
Buffalo |
G |
5-5 |
So. |
Vivian Gray |
Texas Tech |
G |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Arella Guirantes |
Rutgers |
G |
5-11 |
RS Sr. |
Anastasia Hayes |
Middle Tennessee |
G |
5-7 |
RS Jr. |
Naz Hillmon |
Michigan |
F |
6-2 |
Jr |
Rhyne Howard |
Kentucky |
G |
6-2 |
Jr. |
Lexie Hull |
Stanford |
G |
6-0 |
Jr |
Rickea Jackson |
Mississippi State |
F |
6-2 |
Soph. |
Ashley Joens |
Iowa State |
G/F |
6-0 |
Jr. |
Haley Jones |
Stanford |
G |
6-1 |
So. |
N'dea Jones |
Texas A&M |
F |
6-2 |
Sr. |
Micaela Kelly |
Central Michigan |
G |
5-6 |
Sr. |
Ayoka Lee |
Kansas State |
C |
6-6 |
Soph. |
Natasha Mack |
Oklahoma State |
F |
6-4 |
Sr. |
Tiana Mangakahia |
Syracuse |
G |
5-6 |
5th Yr. |
Aari McDonald |
Arizona |
G |
5-6 |
Sr. |
Olivia Nelson-Ododa |
Connecticut |
F |
6-5 |
Jr. |
Michaela Onyenwere |
UCLA |
F |
6-0 |
Sr. |
Charisma Osborne |
UCLA |
G |
5-9 |
Soph. |
Ashley Owusu |
Maryland |
G |
6-0 |
Soph. |
Ali Patberg |
Indiana |
G |
5-11 |
Sr. |
Lindsey Pulliam |
Northwestern |
G |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Maddy Siegrist |
Villanova |
F |
6-1 |
Soph. |
Destiny Slocum |
Arkansas |
G |
5-7 |
RS Sr. |
NaLyssa Smith |
Baylor |
F |
6-2 |
Jr. |
Evina Westbrook |
Connecticut |
G |
6-0 |
RS. Jr. |
Christyn Williams |
Connecticut |
G |
5-11 |
Jr. |
Kiana Williams |
Stanford |
G |
5-8 |
Sr. |
About the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. 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 coaches to those 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 www.WBCA.org for more details about the Association.
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