As the Huskies continue their march to national title No. 9, the individual accolades continue to pile up, and understandably so. The latest: Seniors Bria Hartley and Stefanie Dolson, and sophomore Breanna Stewart have been named finalists for the 2014 Wade Trophy, which, according to the press release, "is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding Division I women's basketball player."
More details via the university:
The candidates were selected by a vote of committee members consisting of leading basketball coaches, journalists and administrators. The committee will select the winner of The Wade Trophy from among the 12 finalists who also are named to the 10-member WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America Team when it is chosen in April. The winner will be announced during the WBCA Awards Show, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. ET Monday, April . 7 ...
The Wade Trophy, now in its 37th year, is named after the late, legendary three-time national champion Delta State University coach, Lily Margaret Wade. This most prestigious award, regarded as "The Heisman of Women's Basketball", debuted in 1978 as the first-ever women's national player of the year award in college basketball.
Dolson, the 2013-14 Defensive Player of the Year, averages 12.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Hartley, an AAC first-teamer, averages 16.5 points per game. And Stewart, already considered the country's best player, averages 19.7 points per game and has reached double figures in 27 straight games.
Maya Moore was the last UConn player to win the honor, doing it three times from 2009-2011. Other Huskies to claim the Wade Trophy include Diana Taurasi (2002-03), Sue Bird (2001-02), Jennifer Rizzoti (1995-96) and Rebecca Lobo (1994-95).
Other 2013-14 finalists include: Jordan Hooper, University of Nebraska; Natasha Howard, Florida State University; Jewell Loyd, University of Notre Dame; Maggie Lucas, Penn State University; Kayla McBride, University of Notre Dame; Tiffany Mitchell, University of South Carolina; Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford University; Odyssey Sims, Baylor University; and Alyssa Thomas, University of Maryland.
