ATLANTA (April 1, 2017) — Gabby Williams of the University of Connecticut is the 2017 WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
The Defensive Player of the Year award honors the best defensive women's basketball player in all of NCAA Division I. All conference defensive players of the year in NCAA Division I are considered for the award. If a conference does not select a defensive player of the year, the conference office can nominate one player to be considered.
“Gabby Williams played an incredibly valuable role for her team on the defensive end of the floor this season. Gabby is a fantastic student-athlete who has demonstrated determination, intensity, effort and teamwork at the highest level,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Gabby has been a consistent defensive force for her team, and has earned the highest respect from opposing coaches and players. We celebrate Gabby and appreciate her contribution to her team as well as to the game of women’s basketball.”
This season, Williams posted 13.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. She stood third in field goal percentage (.577) and steals (2.7 average), fourth in assists (5.3 average) and blocked shots (1.4 average) and fifth in defensive rebounds (5.5 average) for the American Athletic Conference (AAC).
Williams helped the Huskies earn another perfect regular season and berth in UConn’s 17th NCAA Women’s Final Four tournament. The Huskies currently are on a historic 107-game winning streak.
In 2015, Williams was named AAC Sixth Player of the Year as well as to the All-Freshman Team.
The WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year award began in 2007. Visit www.wbca.org/recognize/ to see a list of past recipients.
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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