Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Hayes added to prestigious Wade Trophy Watch List
2/10/2021 10:06:00 AM | Women's Basketball, BRAA
Junior guard in national player of year contention
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Lady Raider junior guard Anastasia Hayes has been added to the 2020-21 Wade Trophy Watch List, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced Wednesday.
The Wade Trophy – now in its 44th year – is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year in college women's basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships. The Wade Trophy is presented by the WBCA Division I Coaches' All-America Selection Committee.
The nation's leading scorer with 28.2 points per game, Hayes also ranks in the Top 15 of eight categories in Division I women's basketball, including points, field goals made, free throws made, assists and steals. Hayes leads Conference USA in scoring, assists and steals.
"It's just nice to see all of my hard work paying off," Hayes said. "I'm so thankful to my coaches for believing in me and having the confidence in me that they do, which gives me confidence. This year I've been trying to let the game come to me and everything has been working out well."
Hayes is on the midseason watch lists for the Wade Trophy, The Naismith Award and the Dawn Staley Award. She is also a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year.
"Anastasia is special, and I tell her that all of the time," Lady Raider head coach Rick Insell said. "She is really a humble player. Anastasia impacts the game in so many ways and is truly one of the great players in the country in college women's basketball. I am glad she is getting the national recognition she deserves."
The WBCA will announce the four finalists in mid-March. The winner of the 2021 Wade Trophy will be announced in April.
2020-21 Wade Watch List
Janelle Bailey, North Carolina
Kierstan Bell, Florida Gulf Coast
Grace Berger, Indiana
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Jessika Carter, Mississippi State
Charli Collier, Texas
Zia Cooke, South Carolina
Elissa Cunane, NC State
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas
Dana Evans, Louisville
Dyasia Fair, Buffalo
Vivian Gray, Texas Tech
Arella Guirantes, Rutgers
Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee
Naz Hillmon, Michigan
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Lexie Hull, Stanford
Rickea Jackson, Mississippi State
Ashley Joens , Iowa State
Haley Jones, Stanford
N'dea Jones, Texas A&M
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
Natasha Mack, Oklahoma State
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse
Aari McDonald, Arizona
Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Connectivut
Michaela Onyenwere, UCLA
Charisma Osborne, UCLA
Ashley Owusu, Maryland
Ali Patberg, Indiana
Lindsey Pulliam, Northwestern
Maddy Siegrist, Villanova
Destiny Slocum, Arkansas
NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
Evina Westbrook, Connecticut
Christyn Williams, Connecticut
Kiana Williams, Stanford
The Wade Trophy – now in its 44th year – is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year in college women's basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships. The Wade Trophy is presented by the WBCA Division I Coaches' All-America Selection Committee.
The nation's leading scorer with 28.2 points per game, Hayes also ranks in the Top 15 of eight categories in Division I women's basketball, including points, field goals made, free throws made, assists and steals. Hayes leads Conference USA in scoring, assists and steals.
"It's just nice to see all of my hard work paying off," Hayes said. "I'm so thankful to my coaches for believing in me and having the confidence in me that they do, which gives me confidence. This year I've been trying to let the game come to me and everything has been working out well."
Hayes is on the midseason watch lists for the Wade Trophy, The Naismith Award and the Dawn Staley Award. She is also a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year.
"Anastasia is special, and I tell her that all of the time," Lady Raider head coach Rick Insell said. "She is really a humble player. Anastasia impacts the game in so many ways and is truly one of the great players in the country in college women's basketball. I am glad she is getting the national recognition she deserves."
The WBCA will announce the four finalists in mid-March. The winner of the 2021 Wade Trophy will be announced in April.
2020-21 Wade Watch List
Janelle Bailey, North Carolina
Kierstan Bell, Florida Gulf Coast
Grace Berger, Indiana
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Jessika Carter, Mississippi State
Charli Collier, Texas
Zia Cooke, South Carolina
Elissa Cunane, NC State
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas
Dana Evans, Louisville
Dyasia Fair, Buffalo
Vivian Gray, Texas Tech
Arella Guirantes, Rutgers
Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee
Naz Hillmon, Michigan
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Lexie Hull, Stanford
Rickea Jackson, Mississippi State
Ashley Joens , Iowa State
Haley Jones, Stanford
N'dea Jones, Texas A&M
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
Natasha Mack, Oklahoma State
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse
Aari McDonald, Arizona
Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Connectivut
Michaela Onyenwere, UCLA
Charisma Osborne, UCLA
Ashley Owusu, Maryland
Ali Patberg, Indiana
Lindsey Pulliam, Northwestern
Maddy Siegrist, Villanova
Destiny Slocum, Arkansas
NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
Evina Westbrook, Connecticut
Christyn Williams, Connecticut
Kiana Williams, Stanford
Players Mentioned
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