Wright Named Wooden Award Midseason Candidate

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia senior guard Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.) was named one of 21 midseason candidates for the Women’s John R. Wooden Award, the nation’s most coveted college basketball honor, Wednesday by The Los Angeles Athletic Club’s John R. Wooden Award Committee. Because of a tie in the voting, 21 players were named rather than the traditional 20. Composed of the players who will compete for this season’s player of the year award, the midseason list is based on individual excellence and team record during the first half of the season.

“The depth and breadth of talent in the women’s game is really apparent,” said Women’s John R. Wooden Award Chairman Richard “Duke” Llewellyn. “Many, many players received votes this year, and I am sure we will see players on the ballot who are not even on this midseason list, as they will step up as we get into conference play.”

Just as players who are not on the preseason list are eligible for the Midseason Top 20, players who do not make the midseason list are still eligible for the national ballot, which will be selected in March and will consist of approximately 20 players, chosen by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board Committee. Players selected to the national ballot will have to be certified by their university as making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA.

On Monday (Jan. 11) against Maryland, Wright became Virginia’s all-time leading scorer, passing former Cavalier All-American Dawn Staley. Wright currently has 2,140 career points. She was an Associated Press preseason All-American and selected as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s preseason player of the year.

Virginia (11-5, 0-2 ACC) is back in action Monday at Virginia Tech. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. and the game will be televised by RSN, the ACC’s Regional Sports Network.

JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD
MIDSEASON TOP 20

$ 2009 Wooden Award winner
% 2008 Wooden All-American