Notre Dame Women Have Two Wooden Award Late Season Finalists
Coach Muffet McGraw I’m sure didn’t want her ladies being outdone by Mike Brey and the men. After it was announced that Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant was named to the Wooden List finalists on the men’s side, the women one-upped them – as Jewell Loyd and freshman Brianna Turner each made the Top 20 list. A little friendly competition is always good.
The John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious in college basketball. Awarded to the nation’s best player, it has included players like Larry Bird (’79), Michael Jordan (’84), Candace Parker (’07 and ’08), Maya Moore (’09 and ’11) and the 2014 winner Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike.
Connecticut leads the way with three on the list, including Breanna Stewart, Kaleena-Mosqueda Lewis and Moriah Jefferson. The Irish are one of three teams to have two members on the list.
Loyd, even with the continued success of the Huskies, may be the current favorite for the award. Averaging 20.7 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game, she has been the dominant and leading force for the Irish all season. In a 94-93 OT win against DePaul early in the season, she elevated her game, scoring 41 points to help them overcome a late-deficit for the win.
As the Irish look to make their fifth-straight trip to the Final Four, the performance of Loyd will without a doubt be the key factor. But the 6-foot-3 Turner will have her say in the matter as well.
The talented Gatorade Player of the Year coming out of high school, she showed every bit of that talent early on, snatching back-to-back ACC freshman of the week awards. But a shoulder injury would slow her inaugural season down a bit. But just a bit.
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Turner is averaging 15 points per game and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting .677 from the field. She’s also averaging 2.5 blocks per game, as she has become a dominant presence for Notre Dame’s inside game.
Loyd is a valuable leader on the floor, whose experience in the last two Final Four’s gives her a solid grasp on what the Irish need to succeed. And the young Turner will only continue to grow her game, and has several more years to find her name on this list.
In addition, the Naismith Award also announced their top 30 finalists, and both Loyd and Stewart find themselves on that list as well.