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Rice University Athletics
Mulkey Named to Naismith Trophy Watch List
11/17/2020 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Tipoff Club released the student-athletes on the 2020-21 Women's Citizen Naismith Trophy Watch List on Tuesday with Rice University women's basketball senior Nancy Mulkey among the 50 selected.
Already selected to the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List honoring the top center in college basketball, Mulkey becomes the second Owl in as many years to be named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List after former teammate Erica Ogwumike accomplished the feat last year.
Mulkey, from Cypress, Texas, was named the Conference USA Co-Preseason Player of the Year last month and also selected to the C-USA Preseason Team. The back-to-back C-USA Defensive Player of the Year ranked fifth in the NCAA last season in blocks per game (3.21) and earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team for a second straight year.
During Mulkey's two years at Rice the Owls have won consecutive C-USA regular season titles and totaled 44 wins.
"The competition for the 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy will intensify as more players enter the competition throughout the season, but these 50 candidates are the early contenders to watch," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "While last season was unlike any college basketball season we've experienced, we hope these athletes have the opportunity to compete through their entire schedule this season and showcase the full breadth of their abilities and talent."
The midseason 30 team will be announced in early February; players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. Then, the competition will be narrowed down to 10 national semifinalists on March 2, 2021, and four finalists will be named on March 19, 2021. The winner of the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on April 3, 2021.
2020-21 Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List
Aliyah Boston South Carolina
Sam Brunelle Notre Dame
Paige Bueckers UConn
DiJonai Carrington Baylor
Jessika Carter Mississippi St.
Charli Collier Texas
Zia Cooke South Carolina
Elissa Cunane NC State
Rennia Davis Tennessee
Chelsea Dungee Arkansas
Dana Evans Louisville
Aleah Goodman Oregon St.
Vivian Gray Texas Tech
Arella Guirantes Rutgers
Lauren Heard TCU
Lexi Held DePaul
Naz Hillmon Michigan
Rhyne Howard Kentucky
Lexie Hull Stanford
Rickea Jackson Mississippi St.
Ashley Jones Iowa St.
Haley Jones Stanford
N'Dea Jones Texas A&M
Taylor Jones Oregon St.
Dorka Juhasz Ohio St.
Ayoka Lee Kansas St.
Kiara Lewis Syracuse
Natasha Mack Oklahoma St.
Tiana Mangakahia Syracuse
Aari McDonald Arizona
Nancy Mulkey Rice
Olivia Nelson-Ododa UConn
Michaela Onyenwere UCLA
Ashley Owusu Maryland
Ali Patberg Indiana
Chelsey Perry Tennessee-Martin
Lasha Petree Bradley
Alissa Pili USC
Lindsey Pulliam Northwestern
Cate Reese Arizona
DiDi Richards Baylor
Destiny Slocum Arkansas
NaLyssa Smith Baylor
Taylor Soule Boston College
Jill Townsend Gonzaga
Maddi Utti Fresno St.
Hailey Van Lith Louisville
Evina Westbrook UConn
Christyn Williams UConn
Kiana Williams Stanford
-RiceOwls.com-
Already selected to the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List honoring the top center in college basketball, Mulkey becomes the second Owl in as many years to be named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List after former teammate Erica Ogwumike accomplished the feat last year.
Mulkey, from Cypress, Texas, was named the Conference USA Co-Preseason Player of the Year last month and also selected to the C-USA Preseason Team. The back-to-back C-USA Defensive Player of the Year ranked fifth in the NCAA last season in blocks per game (3.21) and earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team for a second straight year.
During Mulkey's two years at Rice the Owls have won consecutive C-USA regular season titles and totaled 44 wins.
"The competition for the 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy will intensify as more players enter the competition throughout the season, but these 50 candidates are the early contenders to watch," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "While last season was unlike any college basketball season we've experienced, we hope these athletes have the opportunity to compete through their entire schedule this season and showcase the full breadth of their abilities and talent."
The midseason 30 team will be announced in early February; players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. Then, the competition will be narrowed down to 10 national semifinalists on March 2, 2021, and four finalists will be named on March 19, 2021. The winner of the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on April 3, 2021.
2020-21 Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List
Aliyah Boston South Carolina
Sam Brunelle Notre Dame
Paige Bueckers UConn
DiJonai Carrington Baylor
Jessika Carter Mississippi St.
Charli Collier Texas
Zia Cooke South Carolina
Elissa Cunane NC State
Rennia Davis Tennessee
Chelsea Dungee Arkansas
Dana Evans Louisville
Aleah Goodman Oregon St.
Vivian Gray Texas Tech
Arella Guirantes Rutgers
Lauren Heard TCU
Lexi Held DePaul
Naz Hillmon Michigan
Rhyne Howard Kentucky
Lexie Hull Stanford
Rickea Jackson Mississippi St.
Ashley Jones Iowa St.
Haley Jones Stanford
N'Dea Jones Texas A&M
Taylor Jones Oregon St.
Dorka Juhasz Ohio St.
Ayoka Lee Kansas St.
Kiara Lewis Syracuse
Natasha Mack Oklahoma St.
Tiana Mangakahia Syracuse
Aari McDonald Arizona
Nancy Mulkey Rice
Olivia Nelson-Ododa UConn
Michaela Onyenwere UCLA
Ashley Owusu Maryland
Ali Patberg Indiana
Chelsey Perry Tennessee-Martin
Lasha Petree Bradley
Alissa Pili USC
Lindsey Pulliam Northwestern
Cate Reese Arizona
DiDi Richards Baylor
Destiny Slocum Arkansas
NaLyssa Smith Baylor
Taylor Soule Boston College
Jill Townsend Gonzaga
Maddi Utti Fresno St.
Hailey Van Lith Louisville
Evina Westbrook UConn
Christyn Williams UConn
Kiana Williams Stanford
-RiceOwls.com-
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