LOS ANGELES, Calif. (November 15, 2022) - The John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's announced the Women's Preseason Top 50 Watch List on ESPN.com. Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for the most prestigious honors in college basketball, the Wooden Award All American Team and Most Outstanding Player Award.
Three Hokies: Elizabeth Kitley, Ashley Owusu and Taylor Soule are on the initial list. Tech is one of three schools in the nation to feature three student-athletes on the list alongside South Carolina and Tennessee.
Kitley, who was also chosen as an All-American and Preseason ACC Player of the Year is also on the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List as well as the Naismith Trophy Women's Watch List.
Through three games this season, the center is averaging 17.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. She owns two double-doubles to take her career total to 36, the second-most in program history.
The Summerfield, North Carolina native ranks eighth all-time at VT in points, seventh in field goals made, fourth in rebounds and third in blocks.
Owusu, a Virginia native is three games into her VT career, and is already making an impact. She is averaging 9.3. points and better than two rebounds and two assists per game. She scored in double figures for the first time at Cassell Coliseum Monday night in Tech's rout of USC Upstate.
The senior guard is also on the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List, Naismith Trophy Women's Watch List, ACC Newcomer Watch List and was a Preseason All-ACC selection.
Soule, another Preseason All-ACC selection is also on the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List.
Three games into her VT career, the forward is contributing 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals per night.
