University of North Carolina Athletics
Gakdeng Earns Spot On Lisa Leslie Award Watchlist
November 1, 2024 | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – Entering her second year as a Tar Heel, women's basketball's Maria Gakdeng has been named to the Lisa Leslie Award Watchlist presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as one of the top centers in the country.
Earning a spot on the list for the second straight year, Gakdeng appeared in all 33 games last season for UNC, making 32 starts. Posting efficient numbers, the Lanham, Md., native shot a clean 62.6% from the field for an average of 9.2 points per game. The 6-4 graduate student also grabbed an average of 5.9 rebounds per outing.
A fearless protector around the rim, Gakdeng rejected a total of 51 shots last season and boasts 182 on her career. The duo of Gakdeng and teammate Alyssa Ustby accounted for 39% of the Tar Heels total rebounding last season.
Awarded to the nation's best center in women's college basketball, the Lisa Leslie Award honors the dominant great and four-time Olympic gold medalist. The three-time WNBA MVP retired as the league's all-time leading rebounder and an eight-time First Team All-WNBA performer.
The list will be narrowed down to 10 in late January, with the final five being announced in March.
UNC kicks off the 2024-25 season on Monday for a matinee tip against Charleston Southern at 11 a.m. ET for its annual field trip day. Fans can catch the Tar Heels facing off against the Buccaneers on ACCNX.
Earning a spot on the list for the second straight year, Gakdeng appeared in all 33 games last season for UNC, making 32 starts. Posting efficient numbers, the Lanham, Md., native shot a clean 62.6% from the field for an average of 9.2 points per game. The 6-4 graduate student also grabbed an average of 5.9 rebounds per outing.
A fearless protector around the rim, Gakdeng rejected a total of 51 shots last season and boasts 182 on her career. The duo of Gakdeng and teammate Alyssa Ustby accounted for 39% of the Tar Heels total rebounding last season.
Awarded to the nation's best center in women's college basketball, the Lisa Leslie Award honors the dominant great and four-time Olympic gold medalist. The three-time WNBA MVP retired as the league's all-time leading rebounder and an eight-time First Team All-WNBA performer.
The list will be narrowed down to 10 in late January, with the final five being announced in March.
UNC kicks off the 2024-25 season on Monday for a matinee tip against Charleston Southern at 11 a.m. ET for its annual field trip day. Fans can catch the Tar Heels facing off against the Buccaneers on ACCNX.
| Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award | |
| NAME | SCHOOL |
| Maria Gakdeng | North Carolina |
| Rayah Marshall | USC |
| Alexis Markowski | Nebraska |
| Anastasiia Boldyreva | Middle Tennessee |
| Ayoka Lee | Kansas State |
| Lauren Betts | UCLA |
| Raegan Beers | Oklahoma |
| Taylor Jones | Texas |
| Lauren Ware | Texas A&M |
| Audi Crooks | Iowa State |
| Liz Scott | Oklahoma |
| Sedona Prince | TCU |
| Katelyn Young | Murray State |
| Aaronette Vonleh | Baylor |
| Sakima Walker | South Carolina |
| Allyson Fertig | Wyoming |
| Kennedi Jackson | Boston College |
| Nyla Harris | Louisville |
| Tommisha Lampkin | North Texas |
| Brooklyn Meyer | South Dakota State |
Players Mentioned
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