ATLANTA (March 21, 2024) – The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today the NCAA Division II award winners for the 2023-24 season.
Coach of the Year
Georgia Southwestern University head coach Hana Haden is the 2024 WBCA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year. Haden will receive the Pat Summitt Trophy, named for the late legendary University of Tennessee coach and awarded annually to the coaches of the year in each of the WBCA’s membership divisions.
“The WBCA is proud to announce Hana Haden as the 2024 recipient of the Pat Summitt Trophy presented to the WBCA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle M. Donehew. "Hana was chosen for this honor after leading her team to an exceptional season. The WBCA recognizes and applauds her leadership example that can be seen in her student-athletes, institution and community.”
This year’s finalists for WBCA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year were:
|
Name |
School |
|
LeAnn Freeland |
Nova Southeastern University |
|
Hana Haden |
Georgia Southwestern State University |
|
Beth Jillson |
Texas Woman's University |
|
Kari Pickens |
Ashland University |
|
Thomas Shirley |
Thomas Jefferson University |
|
Jennifer Smith |
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania |
Player of the Year
Samantha Pirosko of Gannon University is the 2024 WBCA NCAA Division II Player of the Year and headlines the 2024 WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches’ All-America team.
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 Wade Trophy is presented to the best player in NCAA Division I.
"The WBCA is pleased to name Samantha Pirosko as the 2024 WBCA NCAA Division II Player of the Year,” said Donehew. “She is most deserving of this distinguished honor. The WBCA applauds Samantha for her hard work, dedication and contributions to the game during the 2023-24 season.”
Coaches’ All-America
Here are the 2024 WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches’ All-Americans:
|
Name |
Institution |
|
Kola Bad Bear |
Montana State University-Billings |
|
Joey Batt |
Minnesota State University-Mankato |
|
Kalifa Ford |
Valdosta State University |
|
Ashley Ingram |
Texas Woman's University |
|
Samantha Pirosko |
Gannon University |
|
Annie Roshak |
Ashland University |
|
Reese Schaaf |
Drury University |
|
Adriana Timberlake |
Southern New Hampshire University |
|
Lauryn Vieira |
Eckerd College |
|
Braelyn Wykle |
Carson-Newman University |
“We congratulate the members of the 2024 WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches’ All-America team,” 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 2024 WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches’ All-America honorable mention:
|
Name |
Institution |
|
Rylie Bisballe |
Grand Valley State University |
|
Raiana Brown |
Texas A&M International University |
|
Kalaya Buggs |
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona |
|
Keeley Carter |
Trevecca Nazarene University |
|
Alyssa DeAngelo |
Fairmont State University |
|
Grace Foster |
Lubbock Christian University |
|
Mallory Hampton |
Lee University |
|
Iemyiah Harris |
Miles College |
|
Sage Hawley |
Harding University |
|
Emily Hege |
Wingate University |
|
Kelly Heimburger |
Azusa Pacific University |
|
Valerie (Sunny) Huerta |
Central Washington University |
|
Leah Johnson |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania |
|
Briana Lee |
American International College |
|
Alisha Little |
Colorado State University-Pueblo |
|
Brooke Littrell |
University of Central Missouri |
|
Diamond McDowell |
Anderson University |
|
Zoe Miller |
Ashland University |
|
Olivia Reed |
Colorado Mesa University |
|
Nicole Scales |
Nova Southeastern University |
|
Lexie Schneider |
University of Mary |
|
Molly Stokes |
Assumption University |
|
Lauryn Taylor |
Francis Marion University |
|
Dejah Terrell |
Pennsylvania Western University-California |
|
Lyrik Thorne |
Catawba College |
|
Katie Wagner |
Fort Hays State University |
|
Brooke Walling |
Western Washington University |
|
Emilee Weakley |
Frostburg State University |
|
Maggie Whitmore |
Bentley University |
|
Sam Yencha |
Thomas Jefferson University |
The WBCA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year, Player of the Year and Coaches’ All-America team are selected by the WBCA NCAA Division II Awards Committee from coaches and student-athletes who are nominated by WBCA member coaches.
Visit WBCA.org to see a list of past recipients of each award.
About the WBCA
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is 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 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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