(TUCSON, AZ) The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today the 20 watch list candidates for the 2020 Katrina McClain Award. Arizona forward Cate Reese was named to the watch list along with two other players from the Pac-12.
Named after the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its third year recognizes the top power forwards in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.
Last season, Reese was named Pac-12 All-Freshman and was a three-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week. She started in all 37 games for the Wildcats and was second on the team with 11.8 points per game. She also led the Wildcats with 6.8 rebounds per game. Her seven double-doubles were the most of any freshman in the Pac-12 and was the leading scorer and rebounder among all Pac-12 freshmen.
In Arizona’s run to the WNIT championship, Reese averaged 14.2 points per game.
The Selection Committee for the Katrina McClain Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. New to the award this season is Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2020 Katrina McClain Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain-Pittman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee.
The winner of the 2020 Katrina McClain Power Forward Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy’s in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 10, 2020, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, in addition to the Men’s Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award include Napheesa Collier, Connecticut (2019) and Ruthy Hebard, Oregon (2018).
2020 Katrina McClain Award Candidates
Cate Reese Arizona
Unique Thompson Auburn
Lauren Cox Baylor
Summer Hemphill Buffalo
Sara Rhine Drake
Leaonna Odom Duke
Kiah Gillespie Florida State
Peyton Williams Kansas State
Ayana Mitchell LSU
Stephanie Jones Maryland
Naz Hillmon Michigan
Taiye Bello Minnesota
Ruthy Hebard Oregon
Brooklyn McDavid Pacific
Eleah Parker Pennsylvania
Bella Alarie Princeton
Francesca Belibi Stanford
Joyner Holmes Texas
N’dea Jones Texas A&M
Hanna Crymble Vermont
Reese and the Wildcats will take the court on Sunday, Oct, 27 as they take on Eastern New Mexico in an exhibition game at 4 p.m. MST at McKale Center.
Courtesy of Arizona Communications Services
