University of Connecticut Athletics
Collier Picked to Katrina McClain Award Watch List
10/25/2018 4:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior Napheesa Collier of the UConn women's basketball team was named to the 20-player Katrina McClain Award watch list, as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Thursday.
In its second year, the Katrina McClain Award honors the top power forward in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
Collier was a finalist for the McClain Award in 2018. Last season, she was named an AP Third Team All-American and an American Athletic Conference First Team selection. She ranked second on the Huskies with 16.1 points per game and averaged 7.4 rebounds per game. Collier notched six double-doubles in 2017-18. The O'Fallon, Mo., native spent September training with the U.S. National Team and was a finalist for USA Basketball's FIBA World Cup roster.
The Selection Committee for the Katrina McClain Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Katrina McClain Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain-Pittman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.
The winner of the 2019 Katrina McClain Power Forward Award will be revealed on an ESPN platform during the 2019 Women's Final Four in Tampa, Florida. Additional awards being presented and recognized at the WBCA Convention include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award. Also being awarded is the Wade Trophy, the sport's oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award which is presented annually by the WBCA's community of coaches to the best player in college women's basketball.
Earlier this week, Crystal Dangerfield was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award watch list (nation's top point guard) and Katie Lou Samuelson was tabbed to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award watch list (nation's top shooting guard).
2019 Katrina McClain Award Candidates
Kianna Ibis                      Arizona St.
Lauren Cox                      Baylor
Reyna Frost                     Central Michigan
Napheesa Collier            Connecticut
Audrey Faber                  Creighton
Sara Rhine                       Drake
Caliya Robinson             Georgia
Peyton Williams             Kansas St
Brianna Fraser                Maryland
Alex Johnson                   Middle Tennessee
Anriel Howard                Mississippi St.
Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah Northwestern
Jessica Shepard              Notre Dame
Ruthy Hebard                 Oregon
Bella Alarie                      Princeton
Alexis Jennings               South Carolina
Alanna Smith                  Stanford
Amy Okonkwo                TCU
Charli Collier                   Texas
Megan Huff                     Utah
