The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced the Top 10 candidates for the 2023 Cheryl Miller Award Wednesday afternoon. Included in the list was Virginia Tech forward Taylor Soule.
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Named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer, the annual award in its sixth year recognizes the top small forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Soule has started all 21 games this season averaging 12.3 points per game and 5.8 rebounds. She's shooting 52% from the field and made a career high six 3-pointers this season. The graduate student has scored in double figures in 11 games and topped 20 on three separate occasions, all VT wins.
The other candidates for the Cheryl Miller Award are: Elizabeth Balogun (Duke), Ashley Joens (Iowa State), Shyanne Sellers (Maryland), Alyssa Ustby (UNC), Madi Williams (Oklahoma), Myah Selland (South Dakota State), Haley Jones (Stanford), Rickea Jackson (Tennessee) and Gianna Kneepkens (Utah).
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 Cheryl Miller 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.