University of Minnesota Athletics
Banham on Wade Watch, espnW All-America Lists
3/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Rachel Banham added the "Wade Watch" list and espnW First-Team All-America status to her 2015-16 résumé on Friday morning. The Wade Trophy is the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) player of the year award. The list includes 30 players, and a winner will be announced during the Final Four. espnW's full All-America list can be found here.
Banham is in the running for three other national player of the year awards. She is a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award, a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy and a candidate for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. In addition, she is a finalist for the Dawn Staley Award given to the nation's top guard.
After returning from a 2014-15 season shortened by an ACL tear, Banham returned this season and became Minnesota's fifth Big Ten Player of the Year. She averaged 27.6 points per game through the Big Ten Tournament and a conference record-setting 30.5 during league play. She is the Gophers' leader in rebounding (6.0 per game) and steals (2.0) and ranks second in assists (4.0).
This year is Banham's third on the "Wade Watch" list. The Gophers have had a player on the list in both years under Marlene Stollings, with Amanda Zahui B. representing the Maroon and Gold last season. Banham was named to espnW's All-America Second Team as a junior in 2013-14.
