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PRE-SEASON CANDIDATES SELECTED FOR THE STATE FARM WADE TROPHY/DIVISION I PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

ATLANTA, Ga. (August 20, 2003) -- Diana Taurasi, Alana Beard, Nicole Powell and Kelly Mazzante are among the list of pre-season candidates for the 2003 - 2004 State Farm Wade Trophy and NCAA Division I Player of the Year honors. Beth Bass, CEO of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today.

The State Farm Wade Trophy, now in its 27th year and named after the late, legendary three-time national champion Delta State University coach, Lily Margaret Wade, debuted in 1978 as the first-ever women's national player of the year award in college basketball. This most prestigious award, regarded as “The Heisman of Women’s Basketball”, is organized by the WBCA in conjunction with the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS).

The candidates were selected by a vote of committee members comprised of leading basketball coaches, journalists, and basketball administrators. Members of the committee were asked to name top female players who are most likely to be in contention for the award.

“We are extremely proud to produce for the first-time ever, The State Farm Wade Trophy pre-season list, which boasts the most talented women’s basketball players in the nation,” said WBCA CEO, Beth Bass. “This year’s State Farm “Wade Watch” will once again be competitive and full of excitement.”

The pre-season candidates for The State Farm Wade Trophy, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:

The State Farm "Wade Watch" (2003-2004) Pre-Season Candidates for the State Farm Wade Trophy
Name
Institution
2003-04 Class Year
Augustus, Seimone Louisiana State University Sophomore
Batteast, Jacqueline University of Notre Dame Junior
Beard, Alana Duke University Senior
Benningfield, Jennifer Vanderbilt University Senior
Bjorklund, Tera University of Colorado Senior
Brunson, Rebekkah Georgetown University Senior
Carey, Jamie University of Texas Senior
Chones, Kaayla North Carolina State University Senior
Christon, Shameka University of Arkansas Senior
Ely, Shyra University of Tennessee Junior
Hoffman, Ebony University of Southern California Senior
Johnson, Temeka Louisiana State University Senior
Jones, Chandi University of Houston Senior
Kublina, Ieva Virginia Tech Senior
Lillis, Jennie University of Iowa Senior
Mazzante, Kelly Penn State University Senior
McCarville, Janel University of Minnesota Junior
Mendiola, Giuliana University of Washington Senior
Moore, Loree University of Tennessee Junior
Ohlde, Nicole Kansas State University Senior
Perkins, Jia Texas Tech University Senior
Polk, Shawntinice University of Arizona Sophomore
Pondexter, Cappie Rutgers University Junior
Powell, Nicole Stanford University Senior
Schreiber, Heather University of Texas Junior
Smith, Kim University of Utah Sophomore
Stephens, Stacy University of Texas Senior
Taurasi, Diana University of Connecticut Senior
Teamer, Brandi University of Virginia Junior
Thomas, Christi University of Georgia Senior
Tillis, Iciss Duke University Senior
Wecker, Kendra Kansas State University Junior
Whalen, Lindsay University of Minnesota Senior
White, Tan Mississippi State University Junior
Wright, Shereka Purdue University Senior

Last year’s State Farm Wade Trophy recipient was Diana Taurasi (University of Connecticut). The first recipient of the Wade Trophy was Carol Blazejowski of Montclair State in 1978. Other Wade Trophy/NCAA Division I Player of the Year recipients include many WNBA standouts such as Teresa Weatherspoon (1988), Jennifer Azzi (1990), Rebecca Lobo (1995), Ticha Penicheiro (1998), in addition to; two-time winner Nancy Lieberman (1979 and 1980) and Cheryl Miller (1985).

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit our website at WBCA.org.