University of Connecticut Athletics
Nelson-Ododa Named to Lisa Leslie Award Watch List
11/13/2020 1:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – UConn women's basketball junior Olivia Nelson-Ododa was one of 20 players named to the 2021 Lisa Leslie Award watch list, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Friday.
Named after the three-time All-American,1994 National Player of the Year and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer, the annual award in its fourth year recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Nelson-Ododa averaged 10.9 points and 8.5 rebounds as a sophomore, including 10 double-doubles. She also notched 100 blocks, the eighth most by a UConn player in a single season. She was named to the 2020 All-AAC Second Team. Nelson-Ododa was tabbed to the 2020 BIG EAST Preseason All-Conference Team.
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In early February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2021 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to just 10. In early March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies goes live today, November 13.
The winner of the 2021 Lisa Leslie Center Award will be presented at on Friday, April 9, 2021, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award, in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award include Aliyah Boston, South Carolina (2020), Megan Gustafson, Iowa (2019) and A'ja Wilson, South Carolina (2018).
