Competition for the 2018 Citizen Naismith Trophy for Women’s Top Player of the Year Begins with 50 Candidates to Watch
ATLANTA (November 29, 2017) – To continue its momentum into the 50th celebration season of the Citizen Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced 50 women’s college basketball players to watch for the Citizen Naismith Player of the Year Trophy. A list of the midseason 30 team will be released on Feb. 12, 2018.
“We are excited to announce 50 talented candidates vying to win the 2018 Women’s Citizen Naismith Trophy as we head into our 50th celebration season,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “This upcoming season should be one to remember, and the journey to become the women’s top player of the year begins today.”
| NAME | CLASS | POSITION | SCHOOL | CONFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kristine Anigwe | Jr. | C/F | California | Pac-12 |
| Ariel Atkins | Sr. | G | Texas | Big 12 |
| Kenisha Bell | Jr. | G | Minnesota | Big Ten |
| Monique Billings | Sr. | F | UCLA | Pac-12 |
| Allazia Blockton | Jr. | G | Marquette | BIG EAST |
| Lexie Brown | Sr. | G | Duke | ACC |
| Kalani Brown | Jr. | C | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Tyra Buss | Sr. | G | Indiana | Big Ten |
| Jordin Canada | Sr. | G | UCLA | Pac-12 |
| Kaila Charles | So. | G | Maryland | Big Ten |
| Napheesa Collier | Jr. | F | UConn | AAC |
| Sophie Cunningham | Jr. | G | Missouri | SEC |
| Crystal Dangerfield | So. | G | UConn | AAC |
| Asia Durr | Jr. | G | Louisville | ACC |
| Katelynn Flaherty | Sr. | G | Michigan | Big Ten |
| Rebecca Greenwell | Sr. | G | Duke | ACC |
| Marie Gulich | Sr. | C | Oregon State | Pac-12 |
| Megan Gustafson | Jr. | F | Iowa | Big Ten |
| Linnae Harper | Sr. | G | Ohio State | Big Ten |
| Ruthy Hebard | So. | F | Oregon | Pac-12 |
| Chanette Hicks | Jr. | G | Virginia Tech | ACC |
| Myisha Hines-Allen | Sr. | F | Louisville | ACC |
| Sabrina Ionescu | So. | G | Oregon | Pac-12 |
| Kaylee Jensen | Sr. | C | Oklahoma State | Big 12 |
| Jackie Kemph | Sr. | G | Saint Louis | Atlantic 10 |
| Kitija Laksa | Jr. | F | USF | AAC |
| Marina Mabrey | Jr. | G | Notre Dame | ACC |
| Tynice Martin | Jr. | G | West Virginia | Big 12 |
| Stephanie Mavunga | Sr. | F | Ohio State | Big Ten |
| Brooke McCarty | Sr. | G | Texas | Big 12 |
| Teaira McCowan | Jr. | C | Mississippi State | SEC |
| Brittany McPhee | Sr. | G | Stanford | Pac-12 |
| Kelsey Mitchell | Sr. | G | Ohio State | Big Ten |
| Teana Muldrow | Sr. | F | West Virginia | Big 12 |
| Jaime Nared | Sr. | G | Tennessee | SEC |
| Kia Nurse | Sr. | G | UConn | AAC |
| Arike Ogunbowale | Jr. | G | Notre Dame | ACC |
| Caliya Robinson | Jr. | F | Georgia | SEC |
| Mercedes Russell | Sr. | C | Tennessee | SEC |
| Katie Lou Samuelson | Jr. | G/F | UConn | AAC |
| Jessica Shepard | Jr. | F | Notre Dame | ACC |
| Azura Stevens | Jr. | F | UConn | AAC |
| Tianna Tarter | Sr. | G | ETSU | SoCon |
| Shakayla Thomas | Sr. | F | Florida State | ACC |
| Victoria Vivians | Sr. | G | Mississippi State | SEC |
| Morgan William | Sr. | G | Mississippi State | SEC |
| Danni Williams | Jr. | G | Texas A&M | SEC |
| Gabby Williams | Sr. | F | UConn | AAC |
| A’ja Wilson | Sr. | F | South Carolina | SEC |
| Jackie Young | So. | G | Notre Dame | ACC |
With nine different conferences represented on the list, the players come from across the country. A total of 10 candidates represent the ACC, and the SEC follows closely with nine players on the Watch List. UConn, which has won more Citizen Naismith Trophies (10) than any other school, leads the Watch List with six players, followed by Notre Dame with four candidates and Ohio State and Mississippi State with three candidates apiece. Players who do not make the Watch List are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 list.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Celebrating 50 Years of the Citizen Naismith Trophy
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club 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 administers the Naismith Awards, which have become the most prestigious national honors in all of college basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the Naismith Trophy recognizes the top Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Players of the Year. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Coaches of the Year, Boys’ and Girls’ High School Basketball Players and Coaches of the Year, Basketball Officials and Outstanding Contributors to the game. Celebrating its 50th year by honoring past winners, the Citizen Naismith Trophy was first presented to UCLA’s Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) in 1969. Old Dominion’s Anne Donovan won the inaugural Women’s Citizen Naismith Trophy in 1983.
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Media Contact:
Traci Messier
Jackson Spalding for the Atlanta Tipoff Club
tmessier@jacksonspalding.com
404-214-3596