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Player of the Year

The WBCA Player of the Year award is presented annually to the best player in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, two-year college and high school divisions. The Player of the Year is announced in conjunction with the announcement of the WBCA Coaches’ All-America Team in each division.

**The Wade Trophy is presented to the best player in NCAA Division I.

Eligibility

All members of the Coaches’ All-America teams in each of the five divisions are candidates for Player of the Year honors in their respective divisions.

Criteria
  • Current-season game-by-game statistics.
  • Effect on team.
  • Leadership.
  • Character.
  • Overall playing ability.
Selection

The player who receives the most votes from awards committee members in the WBCA Coaches’ All-America team selection process in each division is named that division’s WBCA Player of the Year.

Past Recipients
NCAA Division I

The WBCA named a Player of the Year in NCAA Division I from the 1982-83 season, when it assumed responsibility for selecting the Kodak All-America team, through the 1999-2000 season. Beginning with the 2000-01 season, the WBCA entered into the Wade Coalition partnership with the National Association of Girls and Women in Sports (NAGWS), now SHAPE America, and began recognizing the Wade Trophy recipient as its NCAA Division I Player of the Year.

2000 — Tamika Catchings, Tennessee
1999 — Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee
1998 — Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee
1997 — Kate Starbird, Stanford
1996 — Saudia Roundtree, Georgia
1995 — Rebecca Lobo, Connecticut
1994 — Lisa Leslie, Southern California
1993 — Sheryl Swoopes, Texas Tech
1992 — Dawn Staley, Virginia
1991 — Dawn Staley, Virginia
1990 — Venus Lacey, Louisiana Tech
1989 — Clarissa Davis, Texas
1988 — Michelle Edwards, Iowa
1987 — Katrina McClain, Georgia
1986 — Cheryl Miller, Southern California
1985 — Cheryl Miller, Southern California
1984 — Janice Lawrence, Louisiana Tech
1983 — Anne Donovan, Old Dominion

NCAA Division II

2024 — Samantha Pirosko, Gannon
2023 — Brooke Olson, Minnesota Duluth
2022 — Julianne Sutton, North Georgia
2021 — Paige Robinson, Drury
2020 — Hailey Diestelkamp, Drury
2019 — Hailey Diestelkamp, Drury
2018 — Jodi Johnson, Ashland
2017 — Kelly Moten, Emporia State
2016 — Kiana Johnson, Virginia Union
2015 — Shareta Brown, Wayne State (MI)
2014 — Lauren Battista, Bentley
2013 — Kari Daugherty, Ashland
2012 — Kari Daugherty, Ashland
2011 — Jasmine McKever, Lander
2010 — Johannah Leedham, Franklin Pierce
2009 — Katie Cezant, Hillsdale
2008 — Johannah Leedham, Franklin Pierce
2007 — Erika Quigley, Saint Cloud State
2006 — Jennifer Harris, Washburn
2005 — Candice Allen, Cal Poly Pomona
2004 — Mandy Koupal, South Dakota
2003 — Becky Siembak, California (PA)
2002 — Lauri McIntosh, Cal Poly Pomona
2001 — Theresa LeCuyer, North Dakota
2000 — Jayne Even, North Dakota State
1999 — Jenny Crouse, North Dakota
1998 — Jenny Crouse, North Dakota
1997 — Kasey Morlock, North Dakota State
1996 — Jennifer Clarkson, Abilene Christian
1995 — Sheri Kleinsasser, North Dakota
1994 — Tammy Green, Philadelphia
1993 — Yolanda Griffith Florida Atlantic
1992 — Mindy Young, Pitt Johnstown
1991 — Tracy Saunders, Norfolk State
1990 — Crystal Hardy, Delta State
1989 — Cathy Gooden, Cal Poly Pomona
1988 — Vanessa Wells, West Texas A&M
1987 — Debra Larsen, Cal Poly Pomona
1986 — Vicki Mitchell, Cal Poly Pomona
1985 — Rosie Jones, Central Missouri
1984 — Carla Eades, Central Missouri
1983 — Jackie White, Cal Poly Pomona

NCAA Division III

2024 — Natalie Bruns, NYU
2023 — Morgan Morrison, Smith
2022 — Kenedy Schoonveld, Hope
2021 — Kendall Sosa, Illinois Wesleyan
2020 — Maddie Hasson, Bowdoin
2019 — Madison Temple, Thomas More
2018 — Kate Kerrigan, Bowdoin
2017 — Ali Doswell, Amherst
2016 — Sydney Moss, Thomas More
2015 — Sydney Moss, Thomas More
2014 — Sydney Moss, Thomas More
2013 — Samantha Barber, UW-Stevens Point
2012 — Caroline Stedman, Amherst
2011 — Jaclyn Daigneault, Amherst
2010 — Carrie Snikkers, Hope
2009 — Hillary Klimowicz, New Jersey
2008 — Meia Daniels, Howard Payne
2007 — Eileen Flaherty, Bowdoin
2006 — Megan Silva, Randolph-Macon
2005 — Amanda Nechuta, UW-Stevens Point
2004 — Allison Coleman, Eastern Connecticut State
2003 — Kendra Anderson, Hardin-Simmons
2002 — Meredith Eisenhut, Saint Lawrence
2001 — Tasha Rogers, Washington (St. Louis)
2000 — Alia Fischer, Washington (St. Louis)
1999 — Alia Fischer, Washington (St. Louis)
1998 — Alia Fischer, Washington (St. Louis)
1997 — Corinne Carson, Marymount (VA)
1996 — Wendy Wangerin, UW-Oshkosh
1995 — Emilie Hanson, Central (IA)
1994 — Laura Schmelzer, Capital
1993 — Laurie Trow, St. Thomas
1992 — Kathy Beck, Moravian
1991 — Ann Gilbert, Oberlin
1990 — Susan Heidt, Saint John Fisher
1989 — Kirsten Dunford, Stanislaus State
1988 — Kirsten Dunford, Stanislaus State
1987 — Shelley Parks, Scranton
1986 — Jane Meyer, Elizabethtown
1985 — Deanna Kyle, Scranton
1984 — Page Lutz, Elizabethtown
1983 — Margie O’Brien, Clark

NAIA

2024 — Ella Collier, Marian
2023 — Ella Collier, Marian
2022 — Stephanie Soares, Master’s
2021 — Imani Guy, Marian
2020 — Stephanie Soares, Master’s
2019 — Brianna King, Montana Western
2018 — Daniela Galindo, Oklahoma City
2017 — Claire Lamunu, Vanguard
2016 — Jatoria Carter, Auburn-Montgomery
2015 — Hayley Newby, Freed-Hardeman
2014 — Nicole Ballestero, Vanguard
2013 — Tugce Canitez, Westmont
2012 — Tugce Canitez, Westmont
2011 — Meribeth Boehler, Freed-Hardeman
2010 — Whitney Ballinger, Campbellsville
2009 — Jana Cross, Freed-Hardeman
2008 — Josephine Owino, Union (TN)
2007 — Jessica Richter, Vanguard
2006 — Kelly Schmidt, Vanguard
2005 — Sadio Sangare’, Oklahoma City
2004 — Kesha Watson, Oklahoma City
2003 — Jessica Henson, Union (TN)
2002 — Jadrea Seeley, Oklahoma Baptist
2001 — Theresa Schuknecht, Southern Nazarene
2000 — LeAnn Bezner, Southern Nazarene
1999 — Hazel Taylor, Wayland Baptist
1998 — Nikki Johnson, Simon Fraser
1997 — Temika Boga, Lambuth
1996 — Joanna Cuprys, Auburn-Montgomery
1995 — Cherilyn Morris, Southern Nazarene
1994 — Cherilyn Morris, Southern Nazarene
1993 — Taj McWilliams, Saint Edwards
1992 — Michelle Hendry, Simon Fraser
1991 — Michelle Hendry, Simon Fraser
1990 — Miriam Walker-Samuels, Claflin
1989 — Miriam Walker-Samuels, Claflin
1988 — Miriam Walker, Claflin
1987 — Brenda Hill, North Georgia
1986 — Lisa Washington, College of Charleston
1985 — Kelli Litsch, Southwestern Oklahoma State
1984 — Kelli Litsch, Southwestern Oklahoma State
1983 — Kelli Litsch, Southwestern Oklahoma State

Two-Year College

2024 — Waiata Jennings, Collin County (TX)
2023 — Alexio Dizeko, South Georgia Tech
2022 — Jashanti Simmons, Georgia Highlands
2021 — Rebekah Dallinger, Miles (MT)
2020 — Felmas Koranga, Tyler (TX)
2019 — Natasha Mack, Angelina (TX)
2018 — Shayla Bennett, Gulf Coast (FL)
2017 — Taylor Emery, Gulf Coast (FL)
2016 — Kristina King, Gulf Coast (FL)
2015 — Evelyn Akhator, Chipola (FL)
2014 — Adut Bulgak, Trinity Valley (TX)
2013 — Olivia Gaines, Louisburg (NC)
2012 — Sha’Kayla Caples, Trinity Valley (TX)
2011 — Jasmine McGhee, Vincennes (IN)
2010 — Andrea Smith, Gulf Coast (FL)
2009 — Danielle Adams, Jefferson (MO)
2008 — Demauria Liles, Gulf Coast (FL)
2007 — Dominic Seals, South Plains (TX)
2006 — Shannon Bobbitt, Trinity Valley (TX)
2005 — Shaquina Mosley, Central Arizona
2004 — Tiffany Stansbury, Gulf Coast (FL)
2003 — Lakiste Barkus, Trinity Valley (TX)
2002 — Kim Ortega, Seward County (KS)
2001 — Evelina Nhassengo, Central Florida
2000 — Carol Smith, Gulf Coast (FL)
1999 — Yalika Barnes, Trinity Valley (TX)
1998 — Kaunda Williams, Gulf Coast (FL)
1997 — Kamara Stancle, Connors (OK)
1996 — Tausha Mills, Trinity Valley (TX)
1995 — Shalonda Enis, Trinity Valley (TX)
1994 — Saudia Roundtree, Kilgore (TX)
1993 — Connie Robinson, Central Florida
1992 — Rosalie Hayenga, Minnesota West
1991 — Sheryl Swoopes, South Plains (TX)
1990 — Lisa Payne, Kilgore (TX)
1989 — Kristi Kincaid, Central Arizona
1988 — Portia Hill, Trinity Valley (TX)
1987 — Valerie Avant, Florida (Jacksonville)
1986 — Doreatha Conwell, Odessa (TX)
1985 — Rhonda Smith, Connors (OK)
1984 — Felicia Brown, Lackawanna (PA)
1983 — Jackie Glosson, Moberly (MO)

High School

2024 — Sarah Strong, Grace Christian (NC)
2023 — Judea Watkins, Sierra Canyon (CA)
2022 — Lauren Betts, Grandview (CO)
2021 — Raven Johnson, Westlake (GA)
2020 — Paige Bueckers, Hopkins (MN)
2019 — Haley Jones, Archbishop Mitty (CA)
2018 — Christyn Williams, Central Arkansas Christian
2017 — Megan Walker, Monacan (VA)
2016 — Lauren Cox, Flower Mound (TX)
2015 — Katie Lou Samuelson, Mater Dei (CA)
2014 — A’ja Wilson, Heathwood Hall Episcopal (SC)
2013 — Diamond DeShields, Norcross (GA)
2012 — Breanna Steward, North Syracuse (NY)
2011 — Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Mater Dei (CA)
2010 — Odyssey Sims, MacArthur (TX)
2009 — Brittney Griner, Nimitz (TX)
2008 — Elena Delle Donne, Ursuline (DE)
2007 — Maya Moore, Collins Hill (GA)
2006 — Tina Charles, Christ the King (NY)
2005 — Erika Arriaran, Norco (CA)
2004 — Alexis Hornbuckle, South Charleston (WV)
2003 — Tiffany Jackson, Duncanville (TX)
2002 — Ann Strother, Highlands Ranch (CO)
2001 — Cappie Pondexter, John Marshall (IL)
2000 — Shereka Wright, Copperas Cove (TX)
1999 — Nina Smith, West Waterloo (IA)
1998 — Tamika Williams, Chaminade Julienne (OH)
1997 — Tamika Catchings, Duncanville (TX)
1996 — Kiesha Brown, Woodward (GA)
1995 — Chamique Holdsclaw, Christ the King (NY)
1994 — Monick Foote, Sanford (DE)
1993 — La’Keshia Frett, Pheobus (VA)