ATLANTA (Nov. 9, 2021) — 2021 Wade Trophy winner NaLyssa Smith of Baylor headlines the "Wade Watch" list of candidates for the 2022 Wade Trophy presented to the best player in college women's basketball, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
Smith is joined on the 30-player list by 2021 Coaches' All-Americans Aliyah Boston of South Carolina, Paige Bueckers of Connecticut, Caitlin Clark of Iowa, Naz Hillmon of Michigan, and Rhyne Howard of Kentucky. Bueckers and Clark were also the 2021 WBCA NCAA Division I Co-Freshman of the Year presented by adidas.
The Wade Trophy — now in its 45th year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women's basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen.
Kitley, a Lisa Leslie Award Watch List athlete, was a top-five finalist for that award a season ago where she was the only Power Five sophomore to average 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. Last season, the Summerfield, North Carolina native ranked in the top five in the ACC in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage.
Her 13 double-doubles vaulted her to sixth in program history with a total of 19 in 55 career games.
Kitley was one of six Power Five players to register 455 points and 259 or more rebounds. Additionally, she had two games where she scored 30 points, the only ACC athlete to accomplish the feat.
Her 21 rebounds against Wake Forest tied a VT program record.
For her career, Kitley has 55 starts in as many games and has averaged 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds.
Kitley, a First Team All-ACC performer in 2021 and the league's Rookie of the Year in 2020 is a consensus All-ACC athlete this season and was second in voting for Preseason Player of the Year.
She was also the only league player to score 30 or more points multiple times during the season.
Kitley's preseason accolades now include:
Preseason All-ACC
Lisa Leslie Award Watch List
ESPN Top 25
Wade Watch List
