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SAN ANTONIO, TX (March 28, 2002) - Several members
of the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team were
honored with individual accolades at awards presentations held in
conjunction with the 2002 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four
in San Antonio, TX, on Thursday.
Headlining the award winners was senior Sue Bird (Syosset, NY),
who garnered the prestigious Wade Trophy for national player of
the year. The Wade Trophy debuted in 1978 as the first-ever women’s
national player of the year award in college basketball and is voted
upon by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Bird, who averages 14.4 points and 6.0 assists per game for the
Huskies, is UConn’s third recipient of the Wade Trophy. Rebecca
Lobo claimed the honor in 1994-95 while Jennifer Rizzotti was the
Wade Trophy winner for 1995-96.
On Thursday, Bird also garnered The Associated Press Player of the
Year, the fourth UConn player to receive the award.
The WBCA also announced its Kodak All-America team on Thursday.
In addition to Bird, senior Swin Cash (McKeesport, PA) and sophomore
Diana Taurasi (Chino, CA) represented Connecticut on the team. Cash
leads the Huskies in points and rebounds with 14.8 and 8.6 per game,
respectively, while Taurasi averages 14.4 points and 5.4 assists
per game.
The Kodak All-America honors are the first for all three players.
Bird was a member of the Kodak All-District I Team last season.
Rounding out this year’s Kodak All-America team are Chantelle
Anderson (Vanderbilt), Alana Beard (Duke), Stacey Dales (Oklahoma),
Sheila Lambert (Baylor), Kelly Mazzante (Penn State), Nichole Powell
(Stanford) and LaToya Thomas (Mississippi State).
UConn was also represented in the ESPN The Magazine awards presentation.
Bird won Point Guard of the Year while Cash was tabbed Swing Forward
of the Year.
The Huskies face Tennessee in the second Final Four semifinal tomorrow
night. Gametime is approximately 9 p.m. EST.
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