Paige Bueckers of UConn has been named one of five finalists for the prestigious John R. Wooden Award, which recognizes the nation’s top womenâs college basketball player. Joining her on the list are Lauren Betts from UCLA, Madison Booker from Texas, Hannah Hidalgo from Notre Dame, and JuJu Watkins from Southern California. The finalists have had standout seasons and have been crucial to their teams’ success.
Bueckers, Betts, and Booker will play pivotal roles for their teams at the upcoming Final Four in Tampa, Florida. Their performances throughout the season have earned them this recognition, with their teams reaching the final stage of the NCAA Tournament.
Unfortunately, Watkins, who had also been a finalist for the award, suffered a season-ending ACL injury during the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This injury occurred after her team, Southern California, defeated Mississippi State.
Paige Bueckers (WNBA)Watkins Reflects on Support After Injury, Wooden Award Winner to Be Revealed April 11
In an emotional Instagram post following her teamâs loss to Bueckers and UConn in the Elite Eight, Watkins expressed gratitude for the support she received from fans and teammates. She shared how much the kind words meant to her, providing hope during her recovery. Although she couldn’t participate in the game, Watkins expressed pride in her team’s efforts and the fight they displayed throughout the tournament.
The winner of the John R. Wooden Award will be revealed on April 11 at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, with the voting conducted by sportswriters and broadcasters from across the country. In addition to the five finalists, several other players were named to the Wooden All-America team, including Georgia Amoore of Kentucky, Ta’Niya Latson of Florida State, Olivia Miles of Notre Dame, Aneesah Morrow of LSU, and Hailey Van Lith of TCU.
