COLUMBUS (March 29, 2018) – A’ja Wilson of the University of South Carolina has been awarded the 2018 Wade Trophy and headlines the 2018 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America team, announced today by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
The prestigious Wade Trophy, regarded as "the Heisman of Women's Basketball," is presented annually to the NCAA Division I Player of the Year by the WBCA.
Wilson was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year for the third time in 2018, making her the first to ever receive the award three times. She helped lead the Gamecocks to their fourth straight SEC Tournament title and was named the SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player for the second straight season. The senior from Hopkins, South Carolina, is seventh in the nation and second in the SEC in scoring at 22.5 points per game. She led the Gamecocks in rebounding with 11.8 per game and in blocked shots with 105 on the season.
“On behalf of the WBCA, I am honored to present women’s basketball’s highest honor, the Wade Trophy, to A’ja Wilson," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "A’ja had a remarkable season and a historic career at South Carolina. She is the heart of her team.
“A’ja is results-oriented, highly skilled and leads with passion and a profound work ethic. She is a leader who has represented South Carolina with class, captivated fans and influenced the next generation of student-athletes.”
The Wade Trophy — now in its 41st 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 by the WBCA to the best player in NCAA Division I college women’s basketball since 2001.
Here are the 2018 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-Americans:
|
Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
|
Kalani Brown |
Baylor |
Junior |
Center |
|
Asia Durr |
Louisville |
Junior |
Guard |
|
Sabrina Ionescu |
Oregon |
Sophomore |
Guard |
|
Teaira McCowan |
Mississippi State |
Junior |
Center |
|
Kelsey Mitchell |
Ohio State |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Arike Ogunbowale |
Notre Dame |
Junior |
Guard |
|
Katie Lou Samuelson |
Connecticut |
Junior |
Guard/Forward |
|
Victoria Vivians |
Mississippi State |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Gabby Williams |
Connecticut |
Senior |
Forward |
|
A'ja Wilson |
South Carolina |
Senior |
Forward |
Here are the student-athletes who received 2018 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America honorable mention:
|
Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
|
Kristine Anigwe |
California |
Junior |
Forward, Center |
|
Ariel Atkins |
Texas |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Jill Barta |
Gonzaga |
Junior |
Forward |
|
Kenisha Bell |
Minnesota |
Junior |
Guard |
|
Monique Billings |
UCLA |
Senior |
Forward |
|
Allazia Blockton |
Marquette |
Junior |
Guard |
|
Lexie Brown |
Duke |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Tyra Buss |
Indiana |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Jordin Canada |
UCLA |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Chennedy Carter |
Texas A&M |
Freshman |
Guard |
|
Kaila Charles |
Maryland |
Sophomore |
Guard |
|
Napheesa Collier |
Connecticut |
Junior |
Forward |
|
Lauren Cox |
Baylor |
Sophomore |
Forward |
|
Sophie Cunningham |
Missouri |
Junior |
Guard |
|
G'mrice Davis |
Fordham |
Senior |
Forward |
|
Katelynn Flaherty |
Michigan |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Loryn Goodwin |
Oklahoma State |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Rebecca Greenwell |
Duke |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Marie Gulich |
Oregon State |
Senior |
Center |
|
Megan Gustafson |
Iowa |
Junior |
Center |
|
Tyasha Harris |
South Carolina |
Sophomore |
Guard |
|
Ruthy Hebard |
Oregon |
Sophomore |
Forward |
|
Myisha Hines-Allen |
Louisville |
Senior |
Forward |
|
Maria Jespersen |
South Florida |
Senior |
Forward |
|
Kitija Laksa |
South Florida |
Junior |
Guard |
|
Marina Mabrey |
Notre Dame |
Junior |
Guard |
|
Stephanie Mavunga |
Ohio State |
Senior |
Forward |
|
Brooke McCarty |
Texas |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Brittany McPhee |
Stanford |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Jaime Nared |
Tennessee |
Senior |
Forward |
|
Kia Nurse |
Connecticut |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Caliya Robinson |
Georgia |
Junior |
Guard |
|
Mercedes Russell |
Tennessee |
Senior |
Center |
|
Tyler Scaife |
Rutgers |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Jessica Shepard |
Notre Dame |
Junior |
Forward |
|
Azura Stevens |
Connecticut |
Junior |
Forward |
|
Shakayla Thomas |
Florida State |
Senior |
Forward |
|
Hallie Thome |
Michigan |
Junior |
Center |
|
Carlie Wagner |
Minnesota |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Kristy Wallace |
Baylor |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Morgan William |
Mississippi State |
Senior |
Guard |
|
Imani Wright |
Florida State |
Senior |
Guard |
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 www.WBCA.org for more details about the Association.
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