2023-10-05 13:00:00
Charlie CremeESPN.comOct 5, 2023, 09:00 AM ET15 Minute Read
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Caitlin Clark is the clear favorite for the 2023-24 women’s college basketball national player of the year. The Iowa guard became a household name last season, winning every major postseason award for which she was eligible. She even transcended women’s basketball by taking home the Sullivan Award, given to the year’s best amateur athlete.
But despite being the preseason frontrunner, Clark has plenty of competition.
Paige Bueckers is back from a season lost to a knee injury, and the UConn guard won most of the national player of the year honors when she and Clark were freshmen in 2020-21. LSU’s Angel Reese also returns following outdueling Clark for a national championship and the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player last April.
Cameron Brink of Stanford and Elizabeth Kitley of Virginia Tech are two post players who have both played in the Final Four and can dominate, just in a different fashion than Clark.
All these players will be among the favorites to win player of the year in their respective leagues. But they aren’t the only ones. It’s time to break down the prospective winners in all 32 conferences.
Some are fifth- and sixth-year seniors looking for one more season of success. Others are young players regarding to make their mark, or transfers from big-name schools looking to renew their careers at mid-majors. All will have a chance to pick up some hardware at season’s end.
Navigate to each league:
American | America East | ACC | Atlantic Sun | A-10 | Big 12 | Big East | Big Sky | Big South | Big Ten | Big West | CAA | C-USA | Horizon | Ivy | MAAC | MAC | MEAC | MVC | MW | NEC | OVC | Pac-12 | Patriot | SEC | SoCon | Southland | SWAC | Summit | Sun Belt | WCC | WAC
American Athletic Conference
Danae McNeal, 6-0, G, East Carolina Pirates
After being named AAC Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player and first-team all-conference, the big prize is regarding the only honor left for McNeal to win as she enters her fifth season. McNeal’s scoring average jumped from 8.4 PPG to 17.4 PPG, which was good for second in the league. She also ranked eighth in the country with 97 steals for the AAC tournament champs.
Top competition: Sammie Puisis, 6-1, G, South Florida Bulls
The Bulls’ top returning scorer at 15.6 PPG, Puisis also led the AAC in 3-point shooting percentage (38.7%).
America East
Adrianna Smith, 6-0, F, Maine Black Bears
With teammate and 2022 conference POY Anne Simon sidelined for much of last season with injuries, Smith came out of nowhere to win the award in 2023. Smith jumped from 2.1 points and 2.0 rebounds per game as a freshman to a league-leading 18.0 PPG and 9.5 RPG last year. Her 23.5 PPG and 10.3 RPG in conference games marked the first time since 1994 that an America East player averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Top competition: Emma Utterback, 5-8, G, Vermont Catamounts
The America East leader in assists, Utterback is a big reason why the Catamounts had their best season in 13 years.
ACC
Elizabeth Kitley, 6-4, C, Virginia Tech Hokies
Astonishingly consistent over the past three seasons, Kitley is the reigning two-time conference player of the year. Adding the honor this year would mean joining Alana Beard and Alyssa Thomas as the only three-time winners. Kitley has averaged 18.1, 18.2 and 18.2 points and 10.4, 9.8 and 10.7 rebounds per game the past three seasons all while shooting between 53.1% and 55.8% from the field.
Top competition: Olivia Miles, 5-10, G, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Much of Miles’ All-American potential and Notre Dame’s fate this season hinges on her recovery from a knee injury suffered late last season. It doesn’t appear she will start the season on the court, but when she gets to a 100%, Miles might be the best passing point guard in the country.
ASUN Conference
Antwainette Walker, 5-11, G, Eastern Kentucky Colonels
After one season at Little Rock and two more at Marquette, Walker settled into EKU, earning ASUN Newcomer of the Year and first-team all-conference. She led the league in scoring (21.0 PPG) and steals (2.4 SPG) and was second in rebounding (9.4 RPG).
Top competition: Ajulu Thatha, 6-1, F, Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
A grad transfer from SIU Edwardsville, Thatha earned all-OVC honors with 13.7 points and a league-leading 9.7 rebounds per game. She will play her fifth year with the Eagles, looking to be the best player on the A-SUN’s best team.
Atlantic 10
Maye Toure, 6-1, F, Rhode Island Rams
A summer of international basketball a year ago for the France native propelled her from a little-used player on Rhode Island’s bench to the Rams’ best player. She led the A-10 regular-season co-champs in scoring (13.8 PPG) and rebounding (8.2 RPG). An outstanding athlete and tireless worker, Toure might be ready to be the conference’s best player.
Top competition: Kyla McMakin, 5-11, G, Saint Louis Billikens
In her four collegiate seasons (including three at Longwood), McMakin has never averaged fewer than 17.2 points per game. Her 27 points once morest UMass in the A-10 title game propelled the Billikens to their first conference tournament championship.
Big East
Paige Bueckers, 5-11, G, UConn Huskies
It feels so long ago that Bueckers was the best player in college basketball, but it was only 2020-21 that she took home every national player of the year. Injuries cost her much of 2021-22 and all of last season. But she showed her ability to bounce back when her recovery two years ago led to Huskies run to the national championship game. That included a Bridgeport Regional MOP and a Final Four all-tournament selection for Bueckers. Completely healthy, Bueckers will be back in the running for national honors once more.
Top competition: Aaliyah Edwards, 6-3, F, UConn Huskies
UConn guard Azzi Fudd might be thrown into the mix here as well, with the Huskies expected to dominate the Big East if they stay healthy. Edwards is the one UConn star who has been healthy throughout her career, and she blossomed last season as one of the best frontcourt players in the country. She led the Huskies with 16.6 points per game and the Big East with a 58.9 field goal percentage.
Big Sky
Jamie Loera, 5-9, G, Eastern Washington Eagles
After three seasons with minimal playing time at Arizona State, Loera joined the Eagles and became the Big Sky’s Defensive Player of the Year (2.6 SPG). She also ranked third in the conference in assists (5.1 APG) and scored 11.4 points per game.
Top competition: Carmen Gfeller, 6-1, F, Montana Lady Griz
An all-conference honoree in each of the last three seasons, Gfeller led the Lady Griz in scoring (14.2 PPG) and emerged as one of the Big Sky’s best shooters.
Big South
Lauren Bevis, 5-5, G, High Point Panthers
Second in the POY voting last year with Gardner-Webb, Bevis brings 15.4 points per game and 40.9% 3-point shooting to the Panthers for her bonus season.
Top competition: Christabel Ezumah, 6-2, F, Campbell Fighting Camels
Blossoming as a junior, Ezumah was named first-team all-Big South while setting career highs with 10.3 PPG and 9.3 RPG.
Big 12
Rori Harmon, 5-6, G, Texas Longhorns
One of the best defensive players in the country regardless of position, Harmon is the glue that kept the Longhorns together on their way to a share of the Big 12 regular-season title. Her 7.4 assists per game were a program record, and she and Caitlin Clark were the only players in the country last season to average over 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Top competition: Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, 6-1, F, Baylor Bears
A potential breakout star as a sophomore, Littlepage-Buggs was one of the best freshmen in the country last season. She was a unanimous choice as the top rookie in the Big 12. With the Bears now fully separated from the Kim Mulkey era, Littlepage-Buggs might be the face of the program.
Big Ten
Caitlin Clark, 6-0, G, Iowa Hawkeyes
The Big Ten has a host of good players, but Clark as Big Ten Player of the Year might be the easiest prediction of the 32. There is no more dynamic scorer in the game, and she has also led the country in assists two years running. Her shooting range is incomparable, and no player elicits more excitement. Clark’s career averages of 27.2 points, 7.9 assists and 7.0 rebounds are staggering.
Top competition: Mackenzie Holmes 6-3, F, Indiana Hoosiers
In most leagues, in most years, Holmes would be a heavy favorite to be a conference player of the year. Clark makes that nearly impossible in the Big Ten. Holmes, whose decision to stay for a fifth year keeps Indiana among the best teams in the country, was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-American.
Big West
Lily Wahinekapu, 5-7, G, Hawaii Rainbow Girls
In two seasons Wahinekapu has been the Big West Freshman of the Year at Cal State Fullerton and a first-team all-conference team selection at Hawaii. She led the Rainbow Wahine in points (12.9 PPG), assists (2.9 APG), steals (1.7 SPG), minutes (32.2 MPG), 3-point percentage (33.1%) and free throws.
Top competition: Evanne Turner, 5-9, G, UC Davis Aggies
The Aggies’ all-time leading 3-point shooter, Turner led the Big West in scoring last season at 15.1 PPG.
Colonial Athletic Association
Kylie Kornegay-Lucas, 5-10, G, Towson Tigers
After leaving Virginia, Kornegay-Lucas has been the CAA Sixth Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Her offense was on display last season as well, leading the Tigers in scoring (14.0 PPG), rebounding (7.3 RPG) and assists (4.0 PPG).
Top competition: Jada Logan, 5-9, G, Charleston Cougars
In her first season with the Cougars, Logan was second in the CAA in scoring (18.0 PPG) and recorded the second triple-double in program history.
Conference USA
Jordyn Jenkins, 6-0, F, UTSA Roadrunners
UTSA reached its highest win total (13) since 2017 thanks largely to Jenkins, who won CUSA Player of the Year last season despite the Roadrunners’ sixth-place finish. After transferring from USC, Jenkins led the league with 20.6 points per game and a 49.3 field goal percentage. Her 7.5 rebounds per game was good for second in the conference.
Top competition: Savannah Wheeler, 5-6, G, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Wheeler was the top scorer (15.1 PPG) on a Blue Raiders’ team that set the CUSA record for most league wins (18).
Horizon League
Destiny Leo, 5-10, G, Cleveland State Vikings
Primed to be one of the best players in Horizon League history, Leo will be attempting to defend her 2023 Player of the Year trophy. For the second straight season, Leo led the league in scoring (17.9 PPG) and was among the country’s best free throw shooters (91.1%).
Top competition: Brooke Quarles-Daniels, 5-7, G, Oakland Golden Grizzlies
One of the most decorated recruits in Oakland history, Quarles-Daniels was the Horizon’s best freshman a year ago and led the Golden Grizzlies with 12.1 points and 3.1 assists per game.
Ivy League
Abbey Hsu, 5-11, G, Columbia Lions
One of the most prolific shooters in the country, Hsu set the Ivy single-season record for 3-pointers and ranked second in the country with 3.3 treys made per game. Her 17.8 points per game led the league — and she might be even better following spending the summer competing with Team USA at the AmeriCup in Mexico.
Top competition: Kaitlyn Chen, 5-9 G, Princeton Tigers
Last season’s winner and the Ivy League tournament Most Outstanding Player each of the last two years, Chen remains the leader on the Ivy League’s best team.
MAAC
Aaliyah Parker, 5-9, G, Niagara Purple Eagles
The only underclassman on the all-MAC first-team, Parker led the conference is scoring (16.9 PPG) and ranked second in the country with 3.4 steals per game. That all helped the Purple Eagles to the postseason as a Division I program for the first time in their history.
Top competition: Anajah Brown, 6-1, F, Siena Saints
If the Saints are to challenge for their first regular-season title since 2004, Brown, coming off a third-team all-MAAC season, will have to be one of the conference’s best players.
MAC
Quinesha Lockett, 5-10, G, Toledo Rockets
With one of the best three-year runs in program history, Lockett will be on every national mid-major player of the year list. She was voted the Mid-American’s best player a year ago following averaging 17.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Top competition: Reagan Bass, 6-1, F, Akron Zips
The only underclassman to make the all-conference first team, Bass ranked in the top 10 in scoring (17.1 PPG), rebounding (7.7 RPG), field goal percentage (51.3%) and blocks (1.1 BPG).
MEAC
Diamond Johnson, 5-5, G, Norfolk State Spartans
Few players in the MEAC have ever had the résumé of Johnson. After an all-Big Ten freshman team season at Rutgers, Johnson was the ACC’s Sixth Player of the Year in 2022 and NC State’s leading scorer (12.3 PPG) last season. Her presence makes the Spartans a heavy favorite for a third consecutive regular-season title.
Top competition: Destiny Howell, 6-0, G, Howard Bison
Last year’s winner, Howell led the MEAC in scoring (16.8 PPG) and 3-point field goal percentage (35.6%).
Missouri Valley Conference
Katelyn Young, 6-1, F, Murray State Racers
Had the Racers been more successful last season (8th place in the MVC), Young might be going for a POY three-peat. She won it in the OVC in 2022 and then led the MVC in scoring (20.1 PPG) and rebounding (8.1 RPG) a year ago. According to HerHoopStats’ advance metrics, she was 12th in the country in offensive win shares.
Top competition: Grace Boffeli, 6-1, F, Northern Iowa Panthers
If UNI is going to win its first MVC title since 2016, Boffeli will need to have a big year. Duplicating last year’s 16.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 55.3% shooting from the field would qualify.
Mountain West Conference
Desi-Rae Young, 6-1, C, UNLV Lady Rebels
Young won MWC Player of the Year in 2022 and then had an even better season last year but lost out to Colorado State’s McKenna Hofschild. The award is Young’s to lose this time around. The Lady Rebels have been the dominant team in the MWC for consecutive seasons, and Young is a big reason why. Last year she led the league in rebounding (10.2 RPG) and was second in points per game (17.8) and field goal percentage (59.4%).
Top competition: Allyson Fertig, 6-4, C, Wyoming Cowgirls
The two best players in the MWC might be centers, a rarity in the modern game, but it was Fertig (13.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 59.6 FG%) who elevated the Cowgirls to second place in the conference and a WNIT berth.
NEC
Ny’Ceara Pryor, 5-3, G, Sacred Heart Pioneers
No freshman dominated her league the way Pryor did in the NEC. She led the conference in scoring (17.7 PPG), assists (4.3 APG) and steals (3.7 SPG) and became the first in league history to win player of the year, freshman of the year and defensive player of the year in the same season.
Top competition: Jayme DeCesare, 5-5, G, Merrimack Warriors
Merrimack enjoyed its best season since moving to Division I in 2019-2020. DeCesare was a big part of it with 10.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game and a first-team all-league nod.
Ohio Valley Conference
Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, 6-2, F, UT Martin Skyhawks
Expect the Skyhawks to be back near the top of the OVC like they were in 2020 and 2021 — and expect Currie-Jelks to lead them. Last season’s OVC Freshman of the Year was second in scoring (15.2 PPG), fifth in rebounding (6.9 RPG) and first in field goal percentage (53.9%).
Top competition: Macy McGlone, 6-3, F, Eastern Illinois Panthers
With the graduation of Lariah Washington, expect even more opportunity for the Panthers’ second-leading scorer and the OVC’s top returning rebounder.
Pac-12
Cameron Brink, 6-4, F, Stanford Cardinal
As last season wore on it became clear that Brink was Stanford’s best player. That will be the case from day one this year, when she will be the No. 1 option for the Cardinal every trip up the floor. She set career highs in points, rebounds and assists in 2022-23, but most notable were her 3.5 blocks per game. Those solidified her status as one of the best defensive players in the country.
Top competition: Alissa Pili, 6-2, F, Utah Utes
Last year’s winner, Pili led the conference in scoring (20.7 PPG) and field goal percentage (59.0%). In her first year with the Utes following transferring from USC, Pili transformed the Utes into an elite program, earning their highest NCAA tournament seed ever (No. 2).
Patriot League
Lex Therien, 6-1, F, Loyola Maryland Greyhounds
Her team’s improvement from a 4-14 league mark might be necessary for Therien’s candidacy, but she has done plenty on her own, averaging a double-double in each of her first two seasons.
Top competition: Caitlin Weimar, 6-4, F, Boston University Terriers
Voted the league’s best defensive player last season, Weimar was also BU’s leading scorer (15.5 PPG) and rebounder (10.0 RPG).
SEC
Rickea Jackson, 6-2, F, Tennessee Lady Vols
Despite a four-year career in the SEC that has seen her average 17.4 points per game over time with both Mississippi State and the Lady Vols, Jackson hasn’t received as much attention as some other conference stars. That might change this season. Her game grew more efficient in her first season in Knoxville. Jackson’s 54.8 field goal percentage was a career best, and her 19.2 PPG ranked third in the conference.
Top competition: Angel Reese, 6-3, F, LSU Tigers
With the arrivals of Hailey Van Lith and Aneesah Morrow to LSU, Reese’s numbers that were so eye-popping a year ago (23.0 PPG, 15.4 RPG) might take a hit, but she still easily qualifies as one of the best players in the SEC and in the country.
Southern Conference
Rachel Rose, 5-7, G, Wofford Terriers
On Rose’s shoulders, the Terriers won their first conference championship in 2023. She led the team in nearly every offensive statistical category, and the conference coaches selected the sophomore as the player of the year. Another season like that and Rose will probably win over the media, too.
Top competition: Raven Thompson, 5-10, F, Chattanooga Mocs
Thompson’s 19-point, nine-rebound performance in the SoCon tournament title game prevented Wofford from reaching its first NCAA tournament. That earned her tournament Most Outstanding Player following she had already won SoCon Freshman of the Year.
Southland Conference
Alecia Westbrook, 6-1, F, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders
Last season’s winner, Westbrook has averaged a double-double and won the SLC’s Defensive Player of the Year in consecutive years. As the Islanders’ leading scorer and the league’s leading rebounder, Westbrook helped Texas A&M-CC win its first conference championship in 2023 (shared with SE Louisiana).
Top competition: Akasha Davis, 6-2, F, Lamar Cardinals
Davis followed up a freshman of the year campaign by finishing second in the league in scoring (14.6 PPG) and rebounding (8.8 RPG) and first in field goal percentage (61.4%) as a sophomore.
Summit League
Kacie Borowicz, 5-7, G, North Dakota Fighting Hawks
The Summit League’s leading scorer each of the last two seasons, Borowicz decided to come back for her bonus year for a three-peat. Borowicz also topped the Summit in assists last season and has been one of the country’s best free throw shooters in her four years in Grand Forks.
Top competition: Hannah Cooper, 5-7, G, Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Cooper went from 6.5 points per game in 2021-22 to 20.3 last year, good for second in the league to Borowicz. She topped the Summit in steals (2.5 SPG) and minutes (36.9 MPG).
Sun Belt Conference
Domonique Davis, 5-6, G, Southern Miss Lady Eagles
Despite a drop-off in her 3-point shooting, Davis set a career-high in scoring (17.2 PPG), helping the Lady Eagles to a three-way tie for first place, their first regular-season conference championship in 29 years.
Top competition: Terren Ward, 5-11, G, Georgia Southern Eagles
One year following winning Sun Belt Sixth Player of the Year, Ward increased her scoring and rebounding, leading the conference at 18.4 points per game.
SWAC
Ti’lan Boler, 6-1, G, Jackson State Lady Tigers
The most versatile player on the league’s best team, Boler was especially good down the stretch, scoring in double figures in five of the season’s final six games as the Lady Tigers won their third consecutive SWAC regular-season title.
Top competition: Chanel Wilson, 5-7, F, Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
After getting minimal playing time in two years at Indiana, Wilson transferred to Bethune-Cookman and was the SWAC Newcomer of the Year.
WAC
Trinity San Antonio, 5-10, G, Grand Canyon Lopes
San Antonio’s decision to transfer from Cal Baptist to Grand Canyon might shift the fate of the two programs fighting for a WAC title in 2023-24. San Antonio was a first-team all-WAC selection following filling the stat sheet with 14.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.7 APG and 2.3 SPG.
Top competition: Breaunna Gillen, 5-9, G, Utah Tech Trailblazers
Gillen enters her fifth season in St. George as the Trailblazers’ all-time assist leader. She was the league leader at 6.5 APG a year ago and finished second in scoring (17.8 PPG).
West Coast Conference
Yvonne Ejim, 6-1, F, Gonzaga Bulldogs
Becoming a full-time starter for the first-time last season, Ejim led the defending regular-season champs in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots, and was a finalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award.
Top competition: Kaylynne Truong, 5-8, G, Gonzaga Bulldogs
Ejim’s biggest challengers are likely to come from her own team. Truong was last year’s winner following scoring 15.8 points per game and leading the WCC with 5.0 assists per game.
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