In news that shouldn't surprise anyone, UConn junior Breanna Stewart was named USBWA National Player of the Year on Sunday. She had previously been named the 2015 Associated Press Player of the Year and received the 2015 Wade Trophy, which regards itself as "the Heisman of Women's Basketball."
Meanwhile, Stewart becomes the sixth player to win the USBWA National Player of the Year on multiple occasions; he also took home the award last year.
Details via the press release:
The award, first handed out in 1987-88 by the USBWA, began being named for former UCLA four-time All-American Ann Meyers Drysdale in 2012.
The other two-time winners were former Virginia star Dawn Staley (’91, ’92), who returned to the Women’s Final Four Sunday for the first time since her playing days as the coach of South Carolina, Tennessee’s Chamique Holdsclaw (’98, ’99) and Candace Parker (’07, ’08), UConn’s Maya Moore (’09, ’10), and Baylor’s Brittney Griner (’12, ’13).
More, via the AP Player of the Year press release:
A WBCA, USWBA and AP All-American, Stewart stands at No. 11 on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,927 points in her first 113 games in a Husky uniform. Additionally, she ranks fifth in school history with 280 career blocks. Since Stewart joined the program in the 2012-13 campaign, Connecticut owns a 111-5 (.957) record and has won two-straight national championships.
"I am honored to present women’s basketball’s highest honor, the Wade Trophy, to Breanna,” WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew said of Stewart in the Wade Trophy press release. “Breanna had a remarkable season and with her efforts, the game of women’s basketball was elevated to an exciting new level. Each contest showcased her talent to better her teammates, represent the University of Connecticut with class, captivate fans, and inspire the next generation of student-athletes.”
