ATLANTA (March 15, 2023) – Ella Collier of Marian University is the 2023 WBCA NAIA Player of the Year and headlines the 2023 WBCA NAIA Coaches’ All-America team, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
The WBCA presents the Player of the Year award annually to the top player in five of the six WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions II, and III, NAIA, two-year college and high school). The Player of the Year and the 10-member Coaches’ All-America team in each division are selected by a committee of WBCA member coaches in that division. The Wade Trophy is presented to the best player in NCAA Division I.
"The WBCA is pleased to name Ella Collier as the 2023WBCA NAIA Player of the Year,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “She is most deserving of this distinguished honor. The WBCA applauds Ella for her hard work, dedication and contributions to the game during the 2022-23 season.”
Here are the 2023 WBCA NAIA Coaches’ All-Americans:
|
Name |
Institution |
|
|
Melissa Akullu |
Vanguard University |
|
|
Zoie Barth |
Thomas More University |
|
|
Stefanie Berberabe |
Westmont College |
|
|
Grace Beyer |
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy |
|
|
Sandra Cannady |
Loyola University |
|
|
Ella Collier |
Marian University |
|
|
Ella Skeens |
University of Rio Grande |
|
|
Kyra Whitaker |
Indiana Institute of Technology |
|
|
Kaitlynn Wilks |
Campbellsville University |
|
|
Taya Wilson |
Sterling College |
|
“We congratulate remaining members of the 2023 WBCA NAIA Coaches’ All-America team as well,” said Donehew. “These young women have worked to elevate their teams and themselves to an elite level of competition. Through their exceptional talents on the basketball court, they have also lifted the women’s game.”
Here are the student-athletes who received 2023 WBCA NAIA Coaches’ All-America honorable mention:
|
Name |
Institution |
|
Nequoia Adams |
Faulkner University |
|
Kertisa Amos |
Texas Wesleyan University |
|
Claire Austin |
Saint Xavier University |
|
Peyton Banks |
Siena Heights University |
|
Kiara Brown |
Menlo College |
|
Shy Christopher |
Mid-America Christian University |
|
Jenna Cooper-Jackson |
Wayland Baptist University |
|
Rebekah Engle |
William Carey University |
|
Brynley Fitzgerald |
University of Montana-Western |
|
Kennedy Hansberry |
Loyola University |
|
Courtney Hurst |
Thomas More University |
|
Sha'kyia Parker |
Siena Heights University |
|
Jamie Pickens |
Carroll College |
|
Courtney Pritchett |
Campbellsville University |
|
Faith Ross |
Bellevue University |
|
Zoe Rust |
Tabor College |
|
Kennedy Schlabach |
Keiser University |
|
Karsen Schultz |
Sterling College |
|
Asha Scott |
Bellevue University |
|
Tarrah Stephens |
John Brown University |
About the WBCA
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 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.
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