PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Five American Athletic Conference women's basketball players, including four from UConn and USF's Maria Jespersen, were named to the AP and United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-America lists on Monday and Tuesday. The Huskies were represented by junior Katie Lou Samuelson, a First Team honoree on both lists, Gabby Williams, Napheesa Collier and Kia Nurse.
A finalist for the Wooden Award and Naismith trophy, Samuelson leads UConn’s top-ranked offense with 17.5 points per game. She also has 4.5 rebounds per game, 112 assists and 35 steals this season, and is averaging 46.8 percent from three-point field goal range. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native is an Ann Meyers Drysdale Award finalist and was named the American Player of the Year for the second straight season. Samuelson is a two-time AP All-American first teamer.
Also a finalist for the Wooden and Naismith, Williams is averaging 10.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. She leads UConn with 179 assists and 84 steals. The Sparks, Nev., native is a Cheryl Miller Award finalist and was named first team all-conference. This is the second straight season Williams has earned a spot on the AP All-America second team.
Collier is a finalist for the Wooden Award and Katrina McClain Award this season. She is second on the team with 15.9 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game while adding 117 assists, 62 blocks and 59 steals. Collier was a first team all-conference selection. This is the second AP All-America nod for the O’Fallon, Mo., native after earned first team honors last year.
The 2018 AAC Defensive Player of the Year, Nurse is averaging 13.7 and 3.4 rebounds per game while adding 99 assists and 44 steals. She is a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award and currently holds a 44.4 three-point field goal percentage. The Hamilton, Ontario, native was a first team all-conference selection. Nurse was also named an AP honorable mention All-American last season.
Jespersen became the second player in USF program history to receive the Honorable Mention All-America accolades from the AP. The senior led The American with 18 double-doubles. Jespersen finished her storied USF career as one of six players to surpass 1,000 points and 800 rebounds. In four seasons, Jespersen collected 1,462 points and 891 rebounds.The two-time American Athletic Conference first team selection finishes her career No. 10 on the all-time scoring list and her 891 rebounds rank No. 5 on the all-time list.
2018 Associated Press All-Americans
First Team: Katie Lou Samuelson, UConn
Second Team: Gabby Williams, UConn
Third Team: Napheesa Collier, UConn
Honorable Mention: Kia Nurse, UConn & Maria Jespersen, USF
2018 USBWA All-Americans
First Team: Kate Lou Samuelson, UConn
Second Team: Gabby Williams, UConn
Content courtesy UConn Athletics & USF Athletics