University of Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith has been named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List, an accolade awarded to the top 25 student-athletes in college basketball. Van Lith has had a standout junior season thus far, leading the Cardinals in points, assists, and ranking second in rebounds. Her 20.3 points per game rank second in the ACC and 18th nationally, while her 304 points scored place her ninth nationally and second in the league. In addition, Van Lith ranks in the top 20 nationally in field goals made and minutes played per game.
Van Lith has been particularly impressive in ACC play this season, averaging 22.3 points in the three conference games and scoring 20 or more points in each. She is the first Louisville player to accomplish this feat since Angel McCoughtry in the 2008-09 season. Van Lith has scored 20 or more points nine times this season and has shot 50 percent or better from the field in six games, including her last two. She has also led the Cardinals in assists in seven games, tying a career high of six assists in two separate games.
In the win over Syracuse on December 29, Van Lith had a standout performance with 24 points, six assists, and five rebounds. This marked just the second time in her career that she has scored 20 or more points and recorded at least five rebounds and five assists in the same game.
Van Lith’s impressive performances this season have earned her a spot on the prestigious Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List, recognizing her as one of the front-runners for college basketball’s most prestigious honor.
The top players in women’s college basketball have been named as contenders for the 2023 John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s. These women have proven their abilities on the court and are strong contenders for the esteemed award. The Wooden Award National Ballot will consist of 15 top players who have demonstrated their qualifications to their universities. When voting begins before the NCAA Tournament, voters will have the opportunity to rank 10 of these 15 players in order of preference. The Wooden Award All American Team will be announced during the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament. The ultimate winner of the Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy’s in April following the NCAA Tournament.
ABOUT THE JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD
The John R. Wooden Award is one of the most prestigious honors in college basketball, recognizing the most outstanding players, the All-American teams, and the legend of coaching recipient. Established in 1976, the award program has honored some of the greatest players in the history of the game, including Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant, Candace Parker, and Maya Moore. To be eligible for the award, players must meet the qualifications set forth by Coach Wooden and the Wooden Award Steering Committee, including making progress towards graduation and maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.0. In addition to recognizing top players, the John R. Wooden Award has also contributed nearly one million dollars to university scholarship funds and sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to college basketball camps. The award also partners with the Special Olympics Southern California to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament, bringing together Special Olympics athletes and Wooden Award All-Americans and coaches. The tournament is held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club during the John R. Wooden Award Weekend.
