University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
Bailey Named To Leslie Award Watch List
October 26, 2018 | Women's Basketball
Springfield, Mass. — North Carolina sophomore Janelle Bailey has been named a watch list candidate for the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award, announced Friday by The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
Named after the three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its second year recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
Bailey, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, is a preseason All-ACC team selection after enjoying an outstanding freshman year in 2017-18 where she was named ACC Freshman of the Year. The league's top rookie averaged 15.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
"Before Lisa Leslie became one of the most recognizable faces of the WNBA, she was a collegiate center taking the women's game to new heights," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "She is one of the most accomplished and respected centers to ever play the game and her insights and participation as we evaluate the Naismith Starting 5 with be invaluable."
The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.
The winner of the 2019 Lisa Leslie Center Award will be revealed on an ESPN platform during the 2019 Women's Final Four in Tampa, Florida. Additional awards being presented and recognized at the WBCA Convention include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award. Also being awarded is the Wade Trophy, the sport's oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award which is presented annually by the WBCA's community of coaches to the best player in college women's basketball.
Last season, A'ja Wilson of South Carolina was named the inaugural winner of the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award.
For more information and the latest updates on the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #LeslieAward on Twitter and Instagram.
2019 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
Kalani Brown, Baylor
Kristine Anigwe, California
Channon Fluker, Cal State Northridge
Daeja Smith, CSU-Fullerton
Jade Williams, Duke
Megan Gustafson, Iowa
Alex Wittinger, Illinois
Macee Williams, IUPUI
Sam Fuehring, Louisville
Hallie Thome, Michigan
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi St
Kate Cain, Nebraska
Jaisa Nunn, New Mexico
Janelle Bailey, North Carolina
Brianna Turner, Notre Dame
Ae'Rianna Harris, Purdue
Jordan Moore, TCU
Jatarie White, Texas
Katie Powell, UNLV
Mariella Fasoula, Vanderbilt
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season*
About Lisa Leslie:
Widely regarded as the best player in the country during her senior year of high school, Leslie decided to play basketball close to home at University of Southern California. While at USC, she set Pac-10 records for scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, earning All-Pac-10 honors each of her four seasons. In 1991, she was named national freshman of the year and went on to earn All-American Honors the following three seasons. In her senior season, she won multiple national player of the year awards, including the Naismith College Player of the Year and the WBCA Player of the Year. In the summer of 1997, the Women's National Basketball Association was launched and with it, Lisa Leslie became a household name. The Los Angeles Sparks landed the hometown star, who would go on to help them win two world championships. As an eight-time All-Star and three-time MVP, Leslie became the face of the WNBA. In 2002, she became the first player to dunk in a WNBA game. Leslie retired as the all-time leading rebounder in WNBA history and was an eight-time First Team All-WNBA performer. Internationally, Leslie won four gold medals in Olympic competition. Since retiring from professional play, Leslie has worked as a sports commentator and analyst for several networks, while exploring fashion modeling and acting as well.
Named after the three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its second year recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
Bailey, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, is a preseason All-ACC team selection after enjoying an outstanding freshman year in 2017-18 where she was named ACC Freshman of the Year. The league's top rookie averaged 15.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
"Before Lisa Leslie became one of the most recognizable faces of the WNBA, she was a collegiate center taking the women's game to new heights," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "She is one of the most accomplished and respected centers to ever play the game and her insights and participation as we evaluate the Naismith Starting 5 with be invaluable."
The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.
The winner of the 2019 Lisa Leslie Center Award will be revealed on an ESPN platform during the 2019 Women's Final Four in Tampa, Florida. Additional awards being presented and recognized at the WBCA Convention include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award. Also being awarded is the Wade Trophy, the sport's oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award which is presented annually by the WBCA's community of coaches to the best player in college women's basketball.
Last season, A'ja Wilson of South Carolina was named the inaugural winner of the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award.
For more information and the latest updates on the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #LeslieAward on Twitter and Instagram.
2019 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
Kalani Brown, Baylor
Kristine Anigwe, California
Channon Fluker, Cal State Northridge
Daeja Smith, CSU-Fullerton
Jade Williams, Duke
Megan Gustafson, Iowa
Alex Wittinger, Illinois
Macee Williams, IUPUI
Sam Fuehring, Louisville
Hallie Thome, Michigan
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi St
Kate Cain, Nebraska
Jaisa Nunn, New Mexico
Janelle Bailey, North Carolina
Brianna Turner, Notre Dame
Ae'Rianna Harris, Purdue
Jordan Moore, TCU
Jatarie White, Texas
Katie Powell, UNLV
Mariella Fasoula, Vanderbilt
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season*
About Lisa Leslie:
Widely regarded as the best player in the country during her senior year of high school, Leslie decided to play basketball close to home at University of Southern California. While at USC, she set Pac-10 records for scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, earning All-Pac-10 honors each of her four seasons. In 1991, she was named national freshman of the year and went on to earn All-American Honors the following three seasons. In her senior season, she won multiple national player of the year awards, including the Naismith College Player of the Year and the WBCA Player of the Year. In the summer of 1997, the Women's National Basketball Association was launched and with it, Lisa Leslie became a household name. The Los Angeles Sparks landed the hometown star, who would go on to help them win two world championships. As an eight-time All-Star and three-time MVP, Leslie became the face of the WNBA. In 2002, she became the first player to dunk in a WNBA game. Leslie retired as the all-time leading rebounder in WNBA history and was an eight-time First Team All-WNBA performer. Internationally, Leslie won four gold medals in Olympic competition. Since retiring from professional play, Leslie has worked as a sports commentator and analyst for several networks, while exploring fashion modeling and acting as well.
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