Finalists for 2016 Wade Trophy announced
The Wade Trophy Committee and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced  the 15 finalists in contention for the Wade Trophy. The award is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding NCAA Division I women’s basketball player.
The candidates were selected by a vote of committee members consisting of leading basketball coaches, journalists and administrators. The committee will select the winner of the Wade Trophy from among these 15 finalists who also are named to the 10-member WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Team when it is chosen in April. The WBCA will officially announce the Wade Trophy winner during the WBCA Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Indianapolis.
Wade Trophy Finalists
| Player Name | Institution | Year | Position |
| Rachel Banham | Minnesota | Senior | Guard |
| Alaina Coates | South Carolina | Junior | Center |
| Nina Davis | Baylor | Junior | Forward |
| Myisha Hines-Allen | Louisville | Sophomore | Forward |
| Moriah Jefferson | Connecticut | Senior | Guard |
| Brittney Martin | Oklahoma State | Senior | Guard |
| Kelsey Mitchell | Ohio State | Sophomore | Guard |
| Tiffany Mitchell | South Carolina | Senior | Guard |
| Kelsey Plum | Washington | Junior | Guard |
| Breanna Stewart | Connecticut | Senior | Forward |
| Morgan Tuck | Connecticut | Senior | Forward |
| Brianna Turner | Notre Dame | Sophomore | Forward |
| Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | Maryland | Junior | Guard |
| Courtney Williams | South Florida | Senior | Guard |
| A’ja Wilson | South Carolina | Sophomore | Forward |
The Wade Trophy, now in its 39th year, is named after the late, legendary three-time national champion Delta State University coach, Lily Margaret Wade. Last year, Connecticut’s Breanna Stewart received the prestigious award. Connecticut’s Maya Moore was the first student-athlete to win the award three consecutive years (2009, 2010, 2011). The first recipient of the Wade Trophy was Carol Blazejowski of Montclair State in 1978.  Other Wade Trophy/NCAA Division I Player of the Year recipients include many WNBA standouts such as Teresa Weatherspoon (1988), DeLisha Milton-Jones (1997), Candace Parker (2007), Ticha Penicheiro (1998), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003), Seimone Augustus (2005 & 2006), Maya Moore (2009-2011) and Brittney Griner (2012 & 2013).
The WBCA purchased sole ownership and all rights to The Wade Trophy from the Society of Health and Physical Educators, doing business as SHAPE America, in January 2016. The two organizations had partnered to present the prestigious award since 2000. The WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Selection Committee determines the recipient
