Ionescu Named Wade Trophy Finalist
03/14/18 | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. - Sophomore Sabrina Ionescu has been named one of four finalists for the Wade Trophy, which is presented by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association to the national player of the year.
Ionescu joins UConn's Katie Lou Samuelson, Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell and South Carolina's A'ja Wilson as finalists for the award. Ionescu was the Pac-12 player of the year, Samuelson was the American Athletic Conference player of the year, Mitchell was the Big Ten player of the year and Wilson was the SEC player of the year. Ionescu and Mitchell could meet in the Sweet 16, as both the Ducks and Buckeyes are in the Spokane Region. Ionescu could meet either Samuelson or Wilson in the Final Four, as the winners of the Albany Region and Spokane Region meet in the national semifinals.
The winner of the Wade Trophy will be announced during ESPN's telecast of the Final Four games on Mar. 29, in Columbus, Ohio.
Ionescu led the Pac-12 in both points (19.4 ppg) and assists (7.8 apg) this season and her nine career triple-doubles is already the most in NCAA history. Ionescu goes into the NCAA Tournament ranked second in the Pac-12 in three-point percentage (43.7%), behind only teammate Lexi Bando, and is fourth in the NCAA in assists per game. She's the only player in the Pac-12 to average more than 15 points, 6.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game this year.
The Wade Trophy — now in its 41st year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women's basketball. It is named in honor of the late Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the The Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
Carol Blazejowski of Montclair State was the first recipient of the Wade Trophy. Two-time winners include Nancy Leiberman (1979, 1980) of Old Dominion, Seimone Augustus (2005, 2006) of LSU, Brittney Griner (2012, 2013) of Baylor, and Breanna Stewart (2015, 2016) of Connecticut. Maya Moore (2009, 2010, 2011) of Connecticut is the only three-time recipient.
Ionescu joins UConn's Katie Lou Samuelson, Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell and South Carolina's A'ja Wilson as finalists for the award. Ionescu was the Pac-12 player of the year, Samuelson was the American Athletic Conference player of the year, Mitchell was the Big Ten player of the year and Wilson was the SEC player of the year. Ionescu and Mitchell could meet in the Sweet 16, as both the Ducks and Buckeyes are in the Spokane Region. Ionescu could meet either Samuelson or Wilson in the Final Four, as the winners of the Albany Region and Spokane Region meet in the national semifinals.
The winner of the Wade Trophy will be announced during ESPN's telecast of the Final Four games on Mar. 29, in Columbus, Ohio.
Ionescu led the Pac-12 in both points (19.4 ppg) and assists (7.8 apg) this season and her nine career triple-doubles is already the most in NCAA history. Ionescu goes into the NCAA Tournament ranked second in the Pac-12 in three-point percentage (43.7%), behind only teammate Lexi Bando, and is fourth in the NCAA in assists per game. She's the only player in the Pac-12 to average more than 15 points, 6.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game this year.
The Wade Trophy — now in its 41st year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women's basketball. It is named in honor of the late Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the The Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
Carol Blazejowski of Montclair State was the first recipient of the Wade Trophy. Two-time winners include Nancy Leiberman (1979, 1980) of Old Dominion, Seimone Augustus (2005, 2006) of LSU, Brittney Griner (2012, 2013) of Baylor, and Breanna Stewart (2015, 2016) of Connecticut. Maya Moore (2009, 2010, 2011) of Connecticut is the only three-time recipient.
Players Mentioned
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