UConn freshman Paige Bueckers and sophomore Aliyah Boston from South Carolina, who will try to lead their No. 1 seeded teams to the Elite Eight this weekend, were among the college’s basketball players to be named finalists for the 2021 John R. Wooden on Friday. Award.
Louisville senior guard Dana Evans and Baylor junior forward NaLyssa Smith, whose second-placed teams will also compete in the Sweet 16, were also named finalists for the Wooden, which is awarded annually to the best player in women’s basketball.
Kentucky junior guard Rhyne Howard rounded out the finalists, who were also named in the 2021 John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s All American Team. Howard’s fourth-seeded Wildcats were upset by Iowa in the second round of the women’s NCAA tournament.
All five players were also named to the Associated Press All-America first team earlier this month.
Bueckers leads UConn with 19.9 points per game, 6.0 assists and 2.4 steals. The No. 1-ranked Huskies will take on Hawkeyes in the regional semifinals on Saturday (1:00 PM ET, ABC / ESPN app). Bueckers joined Maya Moore as the only UConn players to win Big East Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the same season.
Baylor, the new NCAA tournament favorite for women according to ESPN’s Basketball Percentage Index, plays sixth place in Michigan’s Sweet 16 on Saturday (3:00 PM ET, ABC / ESPN app) in the Sweet 16. Smith, the Big 12 Player of the Year , averaged 18.0 points and 9.0 rebounds – team heights in both categories – for the Lady Bears.
Evans, two-time ACC Player of the Year, averages 19.6 points and 4.0 assists for Louisville, which plays sixth place in Oregon on Sunday (7:00 PM ET, ESPN / ESPN app). Boston, which has accumulated 66 points and 35 rebounds in its past three games, leads South Carolina to the Sweet 16 matchup with fifth-seeded Missouri State on Sunday (3:00 PM ET, ABC / ESPN app). Boston averages a double-double with 14.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.
Howard, two-time SEC Player of the Year, averaged 20.7 points and 7.3 rebounds this season.
The Wooden Award in honor of the best women’s basketball player was established in 2004. Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu won the award in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The winner of the Wooden Award 2021 will be announced after the NCAA tournament in April.