Stanford’s Nneka Ogwumike, Baylor’s Britney Griner look to another All American season

Los Angeles (October 10, 2011)— The Los Angeles Athletic Club has announced its Women’s Preseason Top 30 list today, which is comprised of 30 student-athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball’s most prestigious honor. The list is chosen by a preseason poll of national college women’s basketball media members.

Stanford senior Nneka Ogwumike is a two-time (2010 and 2011) Wooden Award All American, and was the MVP of the West Regional a year ago after averaging 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in 2011. Brittney Griner was named to the All American team last year as a sophomore after leading Baylor in scoring (23.1 ppg, No. 4 in the nation), and rebounds (7.8), and blocked shots (170, No. 1 in the nation)

Transfers, freshmen and medical redshirts are not eligible for the preseason list. These players and others who excel throughout the season will be evaluated and considered for December’s Midseason list and the official voting ballot released in March. The National Ballot consists of approximately 20 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA.  The Wooden Award All American Team, consisting of the nation’s top 10 players, will be announced the week before the Final Four.

The 36th annual Wooden Award ceremony will honor the Men’s and Women’s Wooden Award winners. It will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award, and will take place the weekend of April 9-11, 2012.

Ogwumike is joined on the preseason Wooden Award list by her younger sister and Cardinal teammate, Chiney. Other schools with multiple players chosen include Connecticut with three (Tiffany Hayes, Stefanie Dolson, Bria Hartley); Notre Dame with three (Skylar Diggins, Natalie Novosel, Devereaux Peters); Tennessee with two (Shekinna Stricklen, Glory Johnson); Baylor (Griner, Odyssey Sims); Maryland with two (Lynetta Kizer, Alyssa Thomas); and Miami with two (Shenise Johnson, Riquna Williams).

The Big East led all conferences with nine selections, followed by the ACC with six, the Big 12 with four, the SEC and Big 10 with three, and the Pac-12 and CAA with two, and the Atlantic 10 with one.

2011-12 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 30 List, Women

(Based on a preseason poll. Players listed alphabetically.)

GS = Graduate Student

*indicates player chosen to the 2011 Wooden All American Team

$indicates player chosen to the 2011 Wooden Award ballot

@ indicates player chosen to the 2010 Wooden All American team

Award winner honored April 6, 2012 at The Los Angeles Athletic Club.