TAMPA, MARCH 11, 2016 – University of South Florida senior guard Courtney Williams (Folkston, Ga.) is on another player of the year watch list the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Friday. Williams joined 29 other women's basketball standouts on the 2015-16 “Wade Watch” list for the Wade Trophy.
The Wade Trophy is presented to the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I women's basketball player each year – one who not only excels athletically, but also serves as a positive role model both on and off the court. The acclaimed Wade Watch list, from which the Wade Trophy recipient is chosen, consists of players selected on the basis of game and season statistics, leadership, character, overall playing ability and the positive impact on her respective team.
Williams, recently named the American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year, led the Bulls back to Conference Championship, and set a new tournament record, scoring 67 points (22.3 ppg) in three games. The senior also set a new single-game mark, scoring 29 points in USF's conference opener against SMU. Williams, an all-tournament team selection, leads the league with 22.0 points per game and ranks 12th in NCAA Division I.
The Georgia native has received national attention throughout the season, making appearances on the final Wooden Trophy ballot, the Naismith Trophy watch list, the Dawn Staley Award watch list and the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award watch list. Williams is the first Bull in USF history to reach 2,000 points, 900 rebounds and 300 assists. Prior to the NCAA tournament, Williams has tallied 2,244 points, 916 rebounds and 317 assists. This season Williams has scored 703 points, and is seven points away from matching the programs single-season record of 710 points, which Williams set last season as a junior.
The WBCA will officially announce The Wade Trophy winner during the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Final Four in Indianapolis.
The WBCA purchased sole ownership and all rights to The Wade Trophy from the Society of Health and Physical Educators, doing business as SHAPE America, in January 2016. The two organizations had partnered to present the prestigious award since 2000. The WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America Selection Committee determines the recipient.
The Wade Trophy, named after the late, legendary head coach Lilly Margaret Wade, a three-time national champion at Delta State University, debuted in 1978 as the first-ever women's national player of the year award in college basketball.
The Bulls continue to climb in the polls, and have reached their highest rankings in program history. USF has been ranked as highly as No. 15 in the Associated Press poll and No. 15 in the USA Today Coaches Poll this season; both are the highest rankings in program history. USF has appeared in both polls every week and placed as highly as No. 11 on some ballots.
USF has made 11 postseason tournament appearances and had three NCAA Tournament berths in Head Coach Jose Fernandez's 15 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to six 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 260 games.
– #GoBulls –
