Hokie ClubSpringfield, Mass. — The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today the 20 watch list candidates for the 2020 Nancy Lieberman Award. Now in its twenty first year, the award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered to this prestigious award, candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
"The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate both men and women at all levels of the game," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "The students we are recognizing this week on the Women's Starting Five watch lists are tremendous athletes who deserve to be applauded. We look forward to evaluating this year's candidates with Nancy Lieberman, who paved the way for today's female athletes."
Tech's graduate transfer Taja Cole who was also on the list last season, was included in the initial 20 Monday afternoon. Cole averaged 11 points, 5.3 rebounds and an SEC-best 7 assists a season ago in 2018-19 at the University of Georgia. She ranked fifth nationally in assists per game and was also fifth in the SEC I assist-turnover ratio (2.17). Cole ranked first in the SEC and eighth nationally with 202 assists which was the third-most in a single season at Georgia.
The Selection Committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. New to the award this season is Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2020 Lieberman Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.
The winner of the 2020 Lieberman Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 10, 2020, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five.
2020 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Candidates *
| Te'a Cooper | Baylor |
| Crystal Dangerfield | Connecticut |
| Kelly Campbell | DePaul |
| Nicole Cardano-Hillary | George Mason |
| Ali Patberg | Indiana |
| Lauren Dickerson | Miami-Ohio |
| Cierra Hooks | Ohio |
| Sabrina Ionescu | Oregon |
| Destiny Slocum | Oregon State |
| Stella Johnson | Rider |
| Tyasha Harris | South Carolina |
| Tiana England | St. John's |
| Sug Sutton | Texas |
| Chennedy Carter | Texas A&M |
| Miyah Barnes | UAB |
| Kay Kay Wright | UCF |
| Japreece Dean | UCLA |
| Dru Gylten | Utah |
| Taja Cole | Virginia Tech |
| Chloe Wanink | Wofford |
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2019-20 season
Women's Starting Five Fan Voting Presented by Dell Technologies to go Live on Friday, October 25
2019-20 VIRGINIA TECH WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TICKETS
(The Virginia Tech Athletics Department has individual women's basketball game tickets on sale. Fans interested in purchasing a ticket to any of the Hokies' home games may do so by clicking here.)