Country United States Official website Official website | First awarded 1978 | |
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Awarded for the best female college basketball player in the United States Currently held by Kelsey Plum, Washington | ||
The Wade Trophy is an award presented annually to the best women's basketball player in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I competition. It is named after three–time national champion Delta State University coach Lily Margaret Wade. The award debuted in 1978 as the first–ever women's national player of the year award in college basketball. State Farm Insurance sponsors the award, and the trophy is presented at the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National Convention.
Connecticut has the most all-time winners with nine. Maya Moore is the only player to win the Wade Trophy three times, accomplishing the feat in 2009 (only Sophomore ever to win the award), 2010 and 2011. Other multiple award winners include Nancy Lieberman (1979, 1980), Seimone Augustus (2005, 2006), Brittney Griner (2012, 2013), and fellow Uconn alum Breanna Stewart (2015, 2016).
Three schools are tied for second place in total recipients: Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion, and Texas have three winners apiece. There have never been any ties for the award.
Eligibility and criteria
All academically eligible women's basketball athletes in NCAA Division I qualify as candidates