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ATLANTA (Nov. 20, 2018) — 2018 WBCA Coaches’ All-Americans Kalani Brown of Baylor, Asia Durr of Louisville, Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon, Teaira McCowan of Mississippi State, Arike Ogunbowale of Notre Dame, and Katie Lou Samuelson of UConn headline the “Wade Watch” list of candidates for the 2019 Wade Trophy presented to the best player in college women's basketball, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
The Wade Trophy — now in its 42nd 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 “Wade Watch” list of candidates for the Wade Trophy is composed of players selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Selection Committee. The committee will review the list in January to determine if additional players will be added based on their play during the first half of the 2018-19 season.
Here is the list:
Player |
Institution |
Position |
Height |
Current Year |
Kristine Anigwe |
California |
Center |
6-4 |
Sr. |
Kenisha Bell |
Minnesota |
Guard |
5-9 |
RS Sr. |
Allazia Blockton |
Marquette |
Guard |
5-11 |
Sr. |
Kalani Brown |
Baylor |
Center |
6-7 |
Sr. |
Chennedy Carter |
Texas A&M |
Guard |
5-7 |
So. |
Kaila Charles |
Maryland |
Guard |
6-1 |
Jr. |
Napheesa Collier |
UConn |
Forward |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Lauren Cox |
Baylor |
Forward |
6-4 |
Jr. |
Sophie Cunningham |
Missouri |
Guard |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Crystal Dangerfield |
UConn |
Guard |
5-5 |
Jr. |
Cierra Dillard |
Buffalo |
Guard |
5-9 |
Sr. |
Asia Durr |
Louisville |
Guard |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Megan Gustafson |
Iowa |
Forward |
6-3 |
Sr. |
Tyasha Harris |
South Carolina |
Guard |
5-10 |
Jr. |
Ruthy Hebard |
Oregon |
Forward |
6-4 |
Jr. |
Presley Hudson |
Central Michigan |
Guard |
5-6 |
Sr. |
Sabrina Ionescu |
Oregon |
Guard |
5-11 |
Jr. |
Paris Kea |
North Carolina |
Guard |
5-9 |
RS. Sr. |
Jessica Kovatch |
St. Francis (PA) |
Guard |
5-9 |
Sr. |
Kitija Laksa |
South Florida |
Guard |
6-0 |
Sr. |
Marina Mabrey |
Notre Dame |
Guard |
5-11 |
Sr. |
Darby Maggard |
Belmont |
Guard |
5-5 |
Sr. |
Tiana Mangakahia |
Syracuse |
Guard |
5-6 |
Jr. |
Tynice Martin |
West Virginia |
Guard |
5-11 |
Jr. |
Teaira McCowan |
Mississippi St. |
Center |
6-7 |
Sr. |
Macy Miller |
South Dakota St. |
Guard |
6-0 |
Sr. |
Leaonna Odom |
Duke |
Forward |
6-2 |
Jr. |
Arike Ogunbowale |
Notre Dame |
Guard |
5-8 |
Sr. |
Caliya Robinson |
Georgia |
Forward |
6-3 |
Sr. |
Katie Lou Samuelson |
UConn |
Guard |
6-3 |
Sr. |
Jessica Shepard |
Notre Dame |
Forward |
6-4 |
Sr. |
Alanna Smith |
Stanford |
Forward |
6-4 |
Sr. |
Hallie Thome |
Michigan |
Center |
6-5 |
Sr. |
Brianna Turner |
Notre Dame |
Forward |
6-3 |
Grad. |
Jackie Young |
Notre Dame |
Guard |
6-0 |
Jr. |
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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