UConn’s Paige Bueckers absent from Wooden Award watch list

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The Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 watchlist was released Monday, with 2021 award winner Paige Bueckers trimmed from January’s Midseason Top 25.

Bueckers has not played since December when she suffered a tibial plateau fracture in her left knee and had to have surgery on Dec. 13. She isn’t expected to return until mid-February.

Maryland, Stanford and South Carolina each put two players on the list.

Junior Aliyah Boston and senior Destanni Henderson headline the list, having helped South Carolina to the No. 1 ranking all season long. Haley Jones and Cameron Brink represent Stanford while Maryland’s Ashley Owusu and Angel Reese are also among the honorees.

Iowa sophomore Caitlin Clark, who has been unstoppable throughout the season, is also a candidate to take home the award. Tennessee junior Jordan Horston was the lone player on Monday’s list not included among those listed in January.

DePaul forward Aneesah Morrow is the only freshman on the list. She is currently averaging 20.9 points and 13.4 rebounds per game.

There are seven seniors on the list, headlined by Kentucky senior Rhyne Howard who is projected as the 2022 No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick. Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith is also included.

Full List:

  • Shakira Austin, Ole Miss
  • Kierstan Bell, Florida Gulf Coast
  • Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
  • Cameron Brink, Stanford
  • Caitlin Clark, Iowa
  • Elissa Cunane, NC State
  • Destanni Henderson, South Carolina
  • Naz Hillmon, Michigan
  • Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana
  • Jordan Horston, Tennessee
  • Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
  • Ashley Joens, Iowa State
  • Haley Jones, Stanford
  • Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
  • Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
  • Aneesah Morrow, DePaul
  • Charisma Osborne, UCLA
  • Ashley Owusu, Maryland
  • Angel Reese, Maryland
  • NaLyssa Smith, Baylor