Kelly Named to Lieberman Award, Naismith POY Watch Lists
10/28/24 | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Oregon's Deja Kelly is one of 20 players on the preseason watch list for the 2024-25 Nancy Lieberman Award, presented annually to the nation's top point guard, as well as one of 50 added to the Niasmith Women's College Player of the Year watch list, as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Game and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Kelly is named to the Lieberman Award watch list for the third consecutive season and is one of six athletes from the Big Ten named to the preseason watch list.
A three-time all-ACC first-team selection at North Carolina, Kelly left as the eighth-leading scorer in UNC history with 1,858 points, which has her seventh among active players entering the 2024-25 season. In her last season as a Tar Heel, she was named a WBCA all-America region finalist, while also being named to watch lists for the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award and USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year Award.
Kelly led UNC in scoring for the third straight season in 2023-24, averaging better than 16.0 points per game in each campaign. The Duncanville, Texas, product led the Tar Heels to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2022.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting Friday, Nov. 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2024-25 Nancy Liberman Award will be narrowed to 10, and then to five in late February. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where a winner will be selected.
The 2025 Nancy Lieberman Award winner will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Mne's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).
Former Oregon superstar Sabrina Ionescu won the Lieberman Award three times (2018-20) in her decorated career with the Ducks, with Iowa's Caitlin Clark and UConn great Sue Bird as the only players to accomplish that feat.
2024-25 Nancy Lieberman Award Preseason Watch List
Kelly is named to the Lieberman Award watch list for the third consecutive season and is one of six athletes from the Big Ten named to the preseason watch list.
A three-time all-ACC first-team selection at North Carolina, Kelly left as the eighth-leading scorer in UNC history with 1,858 points, which has her seventh among active players entering the 2024-25 season. In her last season as a Tar Heel, she was named a WBCA all-America region finalist, while also being named to watch lists for the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award and USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year Award.
Kelly led UNC in scoring for the third straight season in 2023-24, averaging better than 16.0 points per game in each campaign. The Duncanville, Texas, product led the Tar Heels to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2022.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting Friday, Nov. 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2024-25 Nancy Liberman Award will be narrowed to 10, and then to five in late February. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where a winner will be selected.
The 2025 Nancy Lieberman Award winner will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Mne's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).
Former Oregon superstar Sabrina Ionescu won the Lieberman Award three times (2018-20) in her decorated career with the Ducks, with Iowa's Caitlin Clark and UConn great Sue Bird as the only players to accomplish that feat.
2024-25 Nancy Lieberman Award Preseason Watch List
| Player | School | Player | School |
| Georgia Amoore | Kentucky | Charlisse Leger-Walker | UCLA |
| Paige Bueckers | UConn | Taina Mair | Duke |
| Makira Cook | Illinois | Olivia Miles | Notre Dame |
| Katie Dinnebier | Drake | Lucy Olsen | Iowa |
| Jordan Harrison | West Virginia | Te-Hina Paopao | South Carolina |
| Rori Harmon | Texas | Kiki Rice | UCLA |
| Hannah Hidalgo | Notre Dame | Emily Ryan | Iowa State |
| Diamond Johnson | Norfolk State | Serena Sundell | K-State |
| Raven Johnson | South Carolina | Ines Vieira | Utah |
| Deja Kelly | Oregon | Talia von Oelhoffen | USC |
Players Mentioned
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