ATLANTA (Feb. 9, 2022) — The WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Selection Committee has added seven student-athletes to the “Wade Watch” list of candidates for the 2022 Wade Trophy, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
Joining the preseason list of 30 Wade Trophy hopefuls are Lorela Cubaj of Georgia Tech, Destanni Henderson of South Carolina, Mackenzie Holmes of Indiana, Ayoka Lee of Kansas State, Khayla Pointer of LSU, Angel Reese of Maryland, and Jacy Sheldon of Ohio State.
The Wade Trophy — now in its 45th 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. This is the first year that freshmen players are eligible for the award. However, no freshmen are on the Wade Watch list.
The WBCA will announce the four finalists for the honor in mid-March. The winner of the 2022 Wade Trophy will be announced in late March or early April on a date to be determined.
Here is the complete 37-member 2021-22 “Wade Watch” list:
|
Name |
Institution |
Position |
Height |
Current Year |
|
Shakira Austin |
Mississippi |
C |
6-5 |
Sr. |
|
Kierstan Bell |
Florida Gulf Coast |
G |
6-1 |
Jr. |
|
Grace Berger |
Indiana |
G |
6-0 |
Sr. |
|
Aliyah Boston |
South Carolina |
F |
6-5 |
Jr. |
|
Cameron Brink |
Stanford |
F |
6-4 |
Soph. |
|
Leigha Brown |
Michigan |
G |
6-1 |
Sr. |
|
Paige Bueckers |
Connecticut |
G |
5-11 |
Soph. |
|
Rae Burrell |
Tennessee |
G/F |
6-1 |
Sr. |
|
Veronica Burton |
Northwestern |
G |
5-9 |
Sr. |
|
Caitlin Clark |
Iowa |
G |
6-0 |
Soph. |
|
Nia Clouden |
Michigan State |
G |
5-8 |
Sr. |
|
Zia Cooke |
South Carolina |
G |
5-9 |
Jr. |
|
Lorela Cubaj |
Georgia Tech |
F |
6-4 |
5th Yr. |
|
Elissa Cunane |
NC State |
C |
6-5 |
Sr. |
|
Monika Czinano |
Iowa |
F/C |
6-3 |
Sr. |
|
Destanni Henderson |
South Carolina |
G |
5-7 |
Sr. |
|
Naz Hillmon |
Michigan |
F |
6-2 |
Sr. |
|
Mackenzie Holmes |
Indiana |
F |
6-3 |
Jr. |
|
Rhyne Howard |
Kentucky |
G |
6-2 |
Sr. |
|
Ashley Joens |
Iowa State |
G/F |
6-1 |
Sr. |
|
Haley Jones |
Stanford |
G |
6-1 |
Jr. |
|
Elizabeth Kitley |
Virginia Tech |
C |
6-6 |
Jr. |
|
Ayoka Lee |
Kansas State |
C |
6-6 |
Jr. |
|
Charlisse Leger-Walker |
Washington State |
G |
5-10 |
Soph. |
|
Diamond Miller |
Maryland |
G |
6-3 |
Jr. |
|
Olivia Nelson-Ododa |
Connecticut |
F |
6-5 |
Sr. |
|
Charisma Osborne |
UCLA |
G |
5-9 |
Jr. |
|
Ashley Owusu |
Maryland |
G |
6-0 |
Jr. |
|
Ali Patberg |
Indiana |
G |
5-11 |
Grad. |
|
Khayla Pointer |
LSU |
G |
5-7 |
Grad. |
|
Angel Reese |
Maryland |
F/G |
6-3 |
Soph. |
|
Nyara Sabally |
Oregon |
F |
6-5 |
RS Jr. |
|
Jacy Sheldon |
Ohio State |
G |
5-10 |
Jr. |
|
Maddy Siegrist |
Villanova |
F |
6-1 |
Jr. |
|
NaLyssa Smith |
Baylor |
F |
6-4 |
Sr. |
|
Hailey Van Lith |
Louisville |
G |
5-7 |
Soph. |
|
Christyn Williams |
Connecticut |
G |
5-11 |
Sr. |
About the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association
For 40 years, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association has been 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 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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