Four Huskies Named to Wooden Award Preseason Top 30
LOS ANGELES –Four members of the UConn women’s basketball team were named to the Wooden Award Preseason Top 30 Tuesday. Juniors Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Evina Westbrook and Christyn Williams and freshman Paige Bueckers were all named to the watch list.
UConn leads all programs with four selections to the Top 30.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2021 John R. Wooden Award Women’s Player of the Year presented by Wendy’s. Players not chosen to the preseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ midseason list, late season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games.
The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2021 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy’s following the NCAA Tournament in April.
John R. Wooden Award
Presented by Wendy’s
Preseason Top 30 Name
School
Conference
Height
Class
Position
Aliyah Boston
South Carolina
SEC
6-5
So.
F
Paige Bueckers
Connecticut
Big East
5-11
Fr.
G
Charli Collier
Texas
Big 12
6-5
Jr.
F/C
Zia Cooke
South Carolina
SEC
5-9
So.
G
Elissa Cunane
NC State
ACC
6-5
Jr.
C
Rennia Davis
Tennessee
SEC
6-2
Sr.
G/F
Chelsea Dungee
Arkansas
SEC
5-11
Sr.
G
Dana Evans
Louisville
ACC
5-6
Sr.
G
Vivian Gray
Texas Tech
Big 12
6-1
Sr.
G
Arella Guirantes
Rutgers
Big Ten
5-11
Sr.
G
Naz Hillmon
Michigan
Big Ten
6-2
Jr.
F
Rhyne Howard*
Kentucky
SEC
6-2
Jr.
G
Lexie Hull
Stanford
PAC-12
6-0
Jr.
G
Rickea Jackson
Mississippi State
SEC
6-2
So.
F
Ashley Joens
Iowa State
Big 12
6-0
Jr.
G/F
N'dea Jones
Texas A&M
SEC
6-2
Sr.
F
Ayoka Lee
Kansas State
Big 12
6-6
So.
C
Kiara Lewis
Syracuse
ACC
5-8
Sr.
G
Tiana Mangakahia
Syracuse
ACC
5-6
Sr.
G
Aari McDonald
Arizona
PAC-12
5-6
Sr.
G
Olivia Nelson-Ododa
Connecticut
Big East
6-5
Jr.
F
Michaela Onyenwere
UCLA
PAC-12
6-0
Sr.
F
Ali Patberg
Indiana
Big Ten
5-11
Sr.
G
Lindsey Pulliam
Northwestern
Big Ten
5-10
Sr.
G
Destiny Slocum
Arkansas
SEC
5-7
Sr.
G
NaLyssa Smith
Baylor
Big 12
6-2
Jr.
F
Unique Thompson
Auburn
SEC
6-3
Sr.
F
Evina Westbrook
Connecticut
Big East
6-0
Jr.
G
Christyn Williams
Connecticut
Big East
5-11
Jr.
G
Kiana Williams
Stanford
PAC-12
5-8
Sr.
G