Thirty Remain in Running for 2013 Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year Presented by AT&T
Baylor’s Brittney Griner once again finds herself among the top 30 candidates under consideration for the Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year award, and looks to become only the sixth woman ever to win back-to-back Women’s Naismith Trophies.
ATLANTA (Feb. 27, 2013) – Baylor’s Brittney Griner once again finds herself among the top 30 candidates under consideration for the Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year award, and looks to become only the sixth woman ever to win back-to-back Women’s Naismith Trophies. Previous winners to accomplish the feat include Seimone Augustus (2005, 2006), Diana Taurasi (2003, 2004), Chamique Holdsclaw (1998, 1999), Dawn Staley (1991, 1992) and Cheryl Miller (1984, 1985, 1986). The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the entire list of 30 candidates today. Delaware senior Elena Delle Donne, the nation’s leading scorer in 2012 and the 2008 Naismith High School Girl’s Player of the Year, joins Griner among the top 30.
The top 30 candidates were selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances during this year’s college basketball season. In late March, the Naismith Trophy voting academy will narrow down the pack to four finalists. The Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year presented by AT&T will be awarded to one female athlete on April 8, 2013, in New Orleans, La.
For the ninth consecutive year, fans will have the opportunity to text their votes for the player of their choice and help determine the 2013 Naismith Trophy winner. Voting will open to fans on Monday, March 25. Naismith Trophy presenting sponsor AT&T is making the voting open to other wireless carriers, enabling even more fans to participate.
A handful of strong programs contribute multiple candidates on this year’s top 30 list. Uconn leads the way with four players (Stefanie Dolson, Kelly Faris, Bria Hartley, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, who won the 2011 Naismith Trophy as a senior in high school), Notre Dame (Skylar Diggins (High School Naismith Trophy in 2009) , Kayla McBride), Baylor (Brittney Griner, Odyssey Sims), Duke (Chelsea Gray, Elizabeth Williams), Maryland (Tianna Hawkins, Alyssa Thomas) and Penn State (Alex Bentley, Maggie Lucas) boast two players each.
“The opportunity for Brittney Griner to win back to back Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year Awards while her team is competing for consecutive team national championships is quite extraordinary,” said Eric Oberman, Executive Director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “Any number of talented individuals could win the Naismith Trophy and that is what makes college basketball so thrilling.”
“This season’s inspiring class of candidates has made a real impact within a number of competitive programs and conferences,” said Jamie Kerr, Director, AT&T Corporate Sponsorships. “We can’t wait until late March when the fans have their opportunity to help these athletes realize this prestigious honor and join an impressive group of past and future winners.”
Notable Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year winners include Chamique Holdsclaw, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, and Tina Charles. The Naismith women’s Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the women’s college basketball player of the year.
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
Top 30 Candidates for 2013 Women’s Naismith Women’s Player of the Year Award:
|
Last Name
|
First Name
|
Class
|
Position
|
School
|
|
Bentley
|
Alex
|
Senior
|
G
|
Penn State
|
|
Bone
|
Kelsey
|
Junior
|
C
|
Texas A&M
|
|
Clarendon
|
Layshia
|
Senior
|
G
|
California
|
|
Delle Donne
|
Elena
|
Senior
|
F
|
Delaware
|
|
Diggins
|
Skylar
|
Senior
|
G
|
Notre Dame
|
|
Dolson
|
Stefanie
|
Junior
|
C
|
Connecticut
|
|
Ellenberg
|
Aaryn
|
Junior
|
G
|
Oklahoma
|
|
Evans
|
Shante
|
Senior
|
F
|
Hofstra
|
|
Faris
|
Kelly
|
Senior
|
G
|
Connecticut
|
|
Goodrich
|
Angel
|
Senior
|
G
|
Kansas
|
|
Gray
|
Chelsea
|
Junior
|
G
|
Duke
|
|
Griner
|
Brittney
|
Senior
|
C
|
Baylor
|
|
Hartley
|
Bria
|
Junior
|
G
|
Connecticut
|
|
Hawkins
|
Tianna
|
Senior
|
F
|
Maryland
|
|
Hill
|
Tayler
|
Senior
|
G
|
Ohio State
|
|
Hooper
|
Jordan
|
Junior
|
F
|
Nebraska
|
|
Lucas
|
Maggie
|
Junior
|
G
|
Penn State
|
|
Mathies
|
A'dia
|
Senior
|
G
|
Kentucky
|
|
McBride
|
Kayla
|
Junior
|
G
|
Notre Dame
|
|
Moore
|
Lindsey
|
Senior
|
G
|
Nebraska
|
|
Mosqueda-Lewis
|
Kaleena
|
Sophomore
|
F
|
Connecticut
|
|
Ogwumike
|
Chiney
|
Junior
|
F
|
Stanford
|
|
Penn
|
Karisma
|
Senior
|
F
|
Illinois
|
|
Rasheed
|
Niveen
|
Senior
|
F
|
Princeton
|
|
Rodgers
|
Sugar
|
Senior
|
G
|
Georgetown
|
|
Rowe
|
Ebony
|
Junior
|
F
|
Middle Tennessee State
|
|
Simmons
|
Meighan
|
Junior
|
G
|
Tennessee
|
|
Sims
|
Odyssey
|
Junior
|
G
|
Baylor
|
|
Thomas
|
Alyssa
|
Junior
|
F
|
Maryland
|
|
Williams
|
Elizabeth
|
Sophomore
|
C
|
Duke
|
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, an Atlanta Sports Council property, is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club, founded during the 1956-57 season, has presented the Naismith Trophy every year since UCLA’s Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. Old Dominion’s Anne Donovan won the inaugural Women’s Naismith Trophy in 1983.
The Naismith Award has become the most prestigious award in all of college basketball, recognizing the Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year, Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and contribution to the game.
