UConn’s Paige Bueckers is the only freshman among 15 women’s basketball players on the Wooden Award national ballot, released Saturday.
South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston and Stanford guard Haley Jones were the only other underclassmen on the list. Stanford was the only multi-representative school as senior guard Kiana Williams was also included in the top 15.
The Pac-12 led the way with four players on the national ballot, including Arizona conference player of the year Aari McDonald and fellow UCLA senior Michaela Onyenwere.
The SEC and Big 12 each had three players on the ballot. Louisville’s Dana Evans, who was named ACC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season earlier this week, is one of seven seniors in the top 15. Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard, SEC Player of the Year for Season 2 in a row, is one of five juniors.
Bueckers has led UConn to a record of 21-1 and the No. 1 position in the AP Top 25. Earlier this week, Bueckers joined Maya Moore as the only woman to receive the Big East player and freshman awards in the same season. the year won. Bueckers leads UConn in scoring (19.8 PPG), assists (6.2 APG), steals (2.4 SPG), and 3-point shooting (47.6%).
Texas’s Charli Collier, a qualifying junior and the anticipated No. 1 pick in the 2021 WNBA draft, was also on the national ballot.
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 Wooden Award All-America team will be announced in late March and the 2021 winner will be announced after the NCAA tournament in April.