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ATLANTA (Nov. 17, 2020) — 2020 WBCA Coaches’ All-Americans Dana Evans of Louisville and Aari McDonald of Arizona headline the “Wade Watch” list of candidates for the 2021 Wade Trophy presented to the best player in college women's basketball, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today. Evans and McDonald are joined on the list by Aliyah Boston of South Carolina who was the 2020 WBCA NCAA Division I Freshman of the Year presented by adidas. 
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 “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 midseason to determine if additional players will be added based on their play during the first half of the 2020-21 season.
Here is the list:
|
Name |
Institution |
Position |
Height |
Current Year |
|
Janelle Bailey |
North Carolina |
C |
6-4 |
Sr. |
|
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. |
|
Vivian Gray |
Texas Tech |
G |
6-1 |
Sr. |
|
Arella Guirantes |
Rutgers |
G |
5-11 |
RS Sr. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
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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.