Evans, Van Lith Named to Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Watch List
November 17, 2020 | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA (November 17, 2020) – University of Louisville senior guard Dana Evans and freshman guard Hailey Van Lith have been named to the 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Watch List, announced today by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Overall, the list of 50 women's players represents 11 national conferences with the Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC having nine players each. The Atlantic Coast Conference has seven players, with Louisville and Syracuse each having two players on the list.
Last week, Evans was named ACC Preseason Player of the Year, along with being named to the Drysdale Award Watch List, while Van Lith was named to the ACC Newcomer Watch List and the Lieberman Watch List.
"The competition for the 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy will intensify as more players enter the competition throughout the season, but these 50 candidates are the early contenders to watch," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "While last season was unlike any college basketball season we've experienced, we hope these athletes have the opportunity to compete through their entire schedule this season and showcase the full breadth of their abilities and talent."
The midseason 30 team will be announced in early February; players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. Then, the competition will be narrowed down to 10 national semifinalists on March 2, 2021, and four finalists will be named on March 19, 2021. The winner of the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on April 3, 2021.
"As we sponsor the collegiate honor for the first year, Jersey Mike's is excited to partner with the Naismith Trophy," said Rich Hope, chief marketing officer, Jersey Mike's Franchise Systems, Inc. "We look forward to following these great athletes throughout the season and honoring one of these talented players as the winner of the 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy."
2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and
recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include Jersey Mike's and Werner Ladder.
ABOUT JERSEY MIKE'S SUBS
Jersey Mike's Subs, with more than 2,500 locations open and under development nationwide, serves authentic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs on in-store freshly baked bread — the same recipe it started with in 1956. Passion for giving in Jersey Mike's local communities is reflective in its mission statement "Giving…making a difference in someone's life." For more information, please visit jerseymikes.com or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/jerseymikes), Instagram (instagram.com/jerseymikes), and Twitter (twitter.com/jerseymikes.com).
Overall, the list of 50 women's players represents 11 national conferences with the Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC having nine players each. The Atlantic Coast Conference has seven players, with Louisville and Syracuse each having two players on the list.
Last week, Evans was named ACC Preseason Player of the Year, along with being named to the Drysdale Award Watch List, while Van Lith was named to the ACC Newcomer Watch List and the Lieberman Watch List.
"The competition for the 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy will intensify as more players enter the competition throughout the season, but these 50 candidates are the early contenders to watch," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "While last season was unlike any college basketball season we've experienced, we hope these athletes have the opportunity to compete through their entire schedule this season and showcase the full breadth of their abilities and talent."
The midseason 30 team will be announced in early February; players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. Then, the competition will be narrowed down to 10 national semifinalists on March 2, 2021, and four finalists will be named on March 19, 2021. The winner of the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on April 3, 2021.
"As we sponsor the collegiate honor for the first year, Jersey Mike's is excited to partner with the Naismith Trophy," said Rich Hope, chief marketing officer, Jersey Mike's Franchise Systems, Inc. "We look forward to following these great athletes throughout the season and honoring one of these talented players as the winner of the 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy."
2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List
| NAME | CLASS | POSITION | SCHOOL | CONFERENCE |
| Aliyah Boston | So. | F | South Carolina | SEC |
| Sam Brunelle | So. | F | Notre Dame | ACC |
| Paige Bueckers | Fr. | G | UConn | BIG EAST |
| DiJonai Carrington | Sr. | G | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Jessika Carter | Jr. | F/C | Mississippi St. | SEC |
| Charli Collier | Jr. | F/C | Texas | Big 12 |
| Zia Cooke | So. | G | South Carolina | SEC |
| Elissa Cunane | Jr. | C | NC State | ACC |
| Rennia Davis | Sr. | G/F | Tennessee | SEC |
| Chelsea Dungee | Sr. | G | Arkansas | SEC |
| Dana Evans | Sr. | G | Louisville | ACC |
| Aleah Goodman | Sr. | G | Oregon State | Pac-12 |
| Vivian Gray | Sr. | G | Texas Tech | Big 12 |
| Arella Guirantes | Sr. | G | Rutgers | Big Ten |
| Lauren Heard | Sr. | G | TCU | Big 12 |
| Lexi Held | Jr. | G | DePaul | BIG EAST |
| Naz Hillmon | Jr. | F | Michigan | Big Ten |
| Rhyne Howard | Jr. | G | Kentucky | SEC |
| Lexie Hull | Jr. | G | Stanford | Pac-12 |
| Rickea Jackson | So. | F | Mississippi St. | SEC |
| Ashley Joens | Jr. | G/F | Iowa State | Big 12 |
| Haley Jones | So. | G | Stanford | Pac-12 |
| N'Dea Jones | Sr. | F | Texas A&M | SEC |
| Taylor Jones | So. | F | Oregon State | Pac-12 |
| Dorka Juhász | Jr. | F | Ohio State | Big Ten |
| Ayoka Lee | So. | C | Kansas State | Big 12 |
| Kiara Lewis | Sr. | G | Syracuse | ACC |
| Natasha Mack | Sr. | F | Oklahoma State | Big 12 |
| Tiana Mangakahia | Sr. | G | Syracuse | ACC |
| Aari McDonald | Sr. | G | Arizona | Pac-12 |
| Nancy Mulkey | Sr. | C | Rice | C-USA |
| Olivia Nelson-Ododa | Jr. | F | UConn | BIG EAST |
| Michaela Onyenwere | Sr. | F | UCLA | Pac-12 |
| Ashley Owusu | So. | G | Maryland | Big Ten |
| Ali Patberg | Sr. | G | Indiana | Big Ten |
| Chelsey Perry | Sr. | F | Tennessee-Martin | OVC |
| Lasha Petree | Jr. | G | Bradley | MVC |
| Alissa Pili | So. | F | USC | Pac-12 |
| Lindsey Pulliam | Sr. | G | Northwestern | Big Ten |
| Cate Reese | Jr. | F | Arizona | Pac-12 |
| DiDi Richards | Sr. | G | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Destiny Slocum | Sr. | G | Arkansas | SEC |
| NaLyssa Smith | Jr. | F | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Taylor Soule | Jr. | F | Boston College | ACC |
| Jill Townsend | Sr. | G | Gonzaga | WCC |
| Maddi Utti | Sr. | F | Fresno St. | MWC |
| Hailey Van Lith | Fr. | G | Louisville | ACC |
| Evina Westbrook | Jr. | G | UConn | BIG EAST |
| Christyn Williams | Jr. | G | UConn | BIG EAST |
| Kiana Williams | Sr. | G | Stanford | Pac-12 |
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and
recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include Jersey Mike's and Werner Ladder.
ABOUT JERSEY MIKE'S SUBS
Jersey Mike's Subs, with more than 2,500 locations open and under development nationwide, serves authentic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs on in-store freshly baked bread — the same recipe it started with in 1956. Passion for giving in Jersey Mike's local communities is reflective in its mission statement "Giving…making a difference in someone's life." For more information, please visit jerseymikes.com or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/jerseymikes), Instagram (instagram.com/jerseymikes), and Twitter (twitter.com/jerseymikes.com).
