Junior guard Shoni Schimmel was one of 25 players named to the 2012-13 preseason "Wade Watch" list of candidates for the prestigious award, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
Schimmel was named a first team WBCA Region I selection last season after leading the Cardinals in scoring, assists, and steals with 14.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. She also ranks third on the team in rebounding with 4.5 boards per game. Schimmel was named a first team All-BIG EAST selection and finished league play ranked 11th in the in scoring, sixth in assists, and fourth in steals.
Now in its 36th year, the State Farm Wade Trophy is named in honor of the late, legendary three-time national champion Delta State University coach, Lily Margaret Wade. Regarded as "The Heisman of Women's Basketball," the award is presented annually to the NCAA® Division I Player of the Year by the National Association of Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) and the WBCA.
The preseason list is composed of top NCAA Division I women’s basketball players who best embody Wade's spirit from 18 institutions and eight conferences. A committee of coaches, administrators and media from across the United States compiled the list using the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability.
The BIG EAST Conference placed seven players on the preseason list, followed by the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences with five each, the Atlantic Coast Conference with three, the Southeastern Conference with two, and the Colonial Athletic Association and Ohio Valley and Pac-12 conferences with one each.
Here is the complete list of preseason candidates for the 2013 State Farm Wade Trophy in alphabetical order:
Player Institution Position Year
Alex Bentley Penn State
Heather Butler UT Martin
Carolyn Davis Kansas
Elena Delle Donne Delaware
Skylar Diggins Notre Dame
Stefanie Dolson Connecticut
Christina Foggie Vanderbilt
Chassidy Fussell Texas
Angel Goodrich Kansas
Chelsea Gray Duke
Brittney Griner Baylor
Bria Hartley Connecticut
Tayler Hill Ohio State
Jordan Hooper Nebraska
Maggie Lucas Penn State
Anna Martin DePaul
A’dia Mathies Kentucky
Lindsey Moore Nebraska
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Connecticut
Chiney Ogwumike Stanford
Sugar Rodgers Georgetown
Shoni Schimmel Louisville
Odyssey Sims Baylor
Alyssa Thomas Maryland
Elizabeth Williams Duke
