SPRINGFIELD, Mass.—South Dakota junior guard
Jaycee Bradley has been named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Preseason Watch List. The award, in its inaugural year, recognizes the top shooting guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. The selection committee is comprised of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and WBCA Hall of Famers.
A native of Norfolk, Neb., Bradley returns as the Coyotes' second-leading scorer and top 3-point shooter from last season. She ranked sixth nationally for 3-point percentage at a 45.3 percent clip. Bradley drained 86 threes to rank fourth on USD single-season charts for 3-pointers made.
Bradley's sophomore campaign included four 20-point games and 23 double-figure games. Notable moments included earning Summit League Player of the Week after averaging 20 points and four rebounds while shooting 58.3 percent from the field in wins over Illinois and San Jose State. She scored a career-high 26 points at CSU Bakersfield and then knocked down seven 3s against Northern Illinois.
Throughout the season, players can play their way onto and off the list at any point. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2018 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Drysdale and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at HoopHallAwards.com.
The winner of the 2018 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award will be announced at an awards ceremony hosted by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Women's Basketball Coaches Association and ESPN at the NCAA Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio.
For more information on the 2018 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, visit HoopHallAwards.com.
2018 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Candidates
| Darby Maggard |
Belmont |
| Katie Lou Samuelson |
Connecticut |
| Ashton Millender |
DePaul |
| Rebecca Greenwell |
Duke |
| Asia Durr |
Louisville |
| Chloe Jackson |
LSU |
| Natisha Hiedeman |
Marquette |
| Allazia Blockton |
Marquette |
| Kaila Charles |
Maryland |
| Victoria Vivians |
Mississippi State |
| Arike Ogunbowale |
Notre Dame |
| Lexi Bando |
Oregon |
| Jovana Nogic |
Providence |
| Jaycee Bradley |
South Dakota |
| Kitija Laksa |
South Florida |
| Akina Wellere |
St. John's |
| Brittany McPhee |
Stanford |
| Dannie Williams |
Texas A&M |
| Kennedy Burke |
UCLA |
| Tynice Martin |
West Virginia |
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2017-18 season*
About Ann Meyers Drysdale: Ann Meyers Drysdale's career escalated women's basketball to a new level. She was the first high school player to make the United States national team and the first woman to receive a full four-year athletic scholarship to UCLA. Her high-octane approach translated into wins and awards and she finished her impressive career at UCLA owning 12 of 13 school records including becoming the first player to record a quadruple double in UCLA history. A supremely talented all-around player with natural basketball ability and instincts, Meyers Drysdale was the first player, male or female, named to an All-America team in four straight seasons and was named Player of the Year during her senior year. While still at UCLA, she started on the first women's Olympic team in 1976. After an All-America career, she became the first player drafted into the Women's Basketball League and made history by becoming the first female player to tryout with an NBA team, the Indiana Pacers, with whom she signed a free agent contract. Meyers Drysdale pushed the envelope in women's basketball, bringing a feel and sense for the game that few players ever exhibited. Since retiring from professional play, she has had a very successful career as an NBA and WNBA executive, as well as a color commentator for the NBA, WNBA and the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.
