The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced the Top 10 candidates for the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award Friday afternoon. Included in the list was Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley.
Named after the three-time All-American, 1994 National Player of the Year and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer, the annual award in its sixth year recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
Kitley has impressed again this season following her 2022 ACC Player of the Year campaign. This season she is averaging better than 18 points per game, 11 rebounds and two blocks while shooting 56% from the field.
She has recorded a league-leading 13 double-doubles this season and owns 10 games of 20 or more points.
Kitley has become the program's all-time leader in field goals, points scored in ACC play and pulled down her 1,000th rebound this season.
The other candidates for the Lisa Leslie Award are: Quay Miller (Colorado), Mackenzie Holmes (Indiana), Monika Czinano (Iowa), Taiyanna Jackson (Kansas), Jessika Carter (Mississippi State), Alexis Markowski (Nebraska), Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), Dorka Juhasz) and Bella Murekatete (Washington State).
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, February 3, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2023 Cheryl Miller Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center), in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
