Women's Naismith Trophy Midseason Candidates Announced
Winner to be Announced at the Final Four in San Antonio

ATLANTA (Feb. 25, 2010) – The Atlanta Tipoff Club today announced the 30 midseason candidates for the 2010 Women’s Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T, and the Big 12 Conference leads the way with five student-athletes, followed by the Big 10, Big East and Southeastern Conference (SEC) with four apiece.  Connecticut, Ohio State, Stanford and Xavier each were represented by two players.   

The list was voted on by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists from around the country. The board based its criteria on player performances this season.

The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T is the most prestigious national basketball award and is given annually to the women’s college basketball player of the year. This year, the award will be presented at the NCAA Women’s Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.

“The consistent theme among these candidates is that they display hard work, dedication and passion for basketball both on and off the court said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president.  “They all exhibit the outstanding traits that make them worthy for consideration of the prestigious Naismith Trophy.”

As a presenting sponsor since 2005, AT&T has set the standard in fan participation in determining this year’s winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25 percent of the final results – more than any other national college basketball award. 

Beginning March 22, AT&T wireless customers – and sports fans on other wireless networks – will be able to text their votes for the player of their choice.  Fans will be eligible to cast their vote for the winner until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 3, 2010. AT&T is making the voting open to other wireless carriers, allowing even more fans to participate. Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate. Standard messaging rates apply.

“AT&T applauds these student-athletes’ for their performances this season,” said Jamie Kerr, senior manager, AT&T National Sponsorships. “Through our text message voting program, we’re giving college basketball fans – arguably the most enthusiastic sports fans – the opportunity once again to help determine this year’s award recipient.”

2010 Naismith Women’s Midseason Candidates:

Last name	First Name	School	Position	Class
Appel	Jayne	Stanford	Center	Senior
Barlow	Ashley	Notre Dame	Guard	Senior
Charles	Tina	UCONN	Center	Senior
Clark	Alysha	Middle Tennessee	Forward	Senior
Delle Donne	Elena	Delaware	Forward/Guard	Freshman
Evans	Dawn	James Madison	Guard	Junior
Grant	Tyra	Penn State	Guard	Senior
Gray-Lawson	Alexis	California	Guard	Senior
Griffin	Kelsey	Nebraska	Forward	Senior
Griner	Brittney	Baylor	Post	Freshman
Harris	Amber	Xavier	Forward	Junior
Hightower	Allison	LSU	Guard	Senior
Houts	Ashley	Georgia	Guard	Senior
Johnson	Shenise	Miami	Forward	Sophomore
Lavender	Jantel	Ohio State	Center	Junior
Marginean	Gabriela	Drexel	Forward	Senior
McCray	Danielle	Kansas	Forward/Guard	Senior
Moore	Maya	UCONN	Forward	Junior
Pedersen	Kayla	Stanford	Forward	Junior
Phillips	Ta'Shia	Xavier	Center	Junior
Prahalis	Samantha	Ohio State	Guard	Sophomore
Riley	Andrea	Oklahoma State	Guard	Senior
Robinson	Danielle	Oklahoma	Guard	Junior
Smith	Jenna	Illinois	Center	Senior
Stevens	Da'Shena	St. John's	Forward	Sophomore
Stricklen	Shekinna	Tennessee	Forward/Guard	Sophomore
Thomas	Jasmine	Duke	Guard	Junior
Thomas	Bianca	Ole Miss	Guard	Senior
Vandersloot	Courtney	Gonzaga	Guard	Junior
Wright	Monica	Virginia	Guard	Senior

 

Other notable Naismith Trophy past winners include Cheryl Miller (USC), Dawn Staley (Virginia), Candace Parker (Tennessee) and last year’s winner, Maya Moore (UCONN).  For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.

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.

About AT&T
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