USBWA California News

For the period through Sunday, Dec. 15, the five Ann Meyers Drysdale national women’s honorees of the week are Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, Kansas guard S’Mya Nichols, Vanderbilt forward Khamil Pierre, California forward Marta Suarez, and Wisconsin forward Serah Williams. The Tamika Catchings freshman of the week is Rutgers guard Kiyomi McMiller, and the National Team of the Week is Georgia Tech.

Connecticut senior standout Breanna Stewart made United States Basketball Writers Association history Sunday afternoon, becoming the first women's star to win three Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year honors, named for UCLA Hall of Famer.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has chosen the recipients of its 2008-09 women's postseason honors. For the third time, Connecticut has swept the association's player and coach the year awards. Sophomore Maya Moore, the 2008 USBWA Freshman of the Year, is the 2009 USBWA National Player of the Year, while coach Geno Auriemma has captured USBWA National Coach of the Year honors for the second straight season and fourth time overall. Eight other times, the player and coach of the year have come from the same school.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has announced finalists for the 2009 Rawlings Henry Iba Award, to be presented to the association's national coach of the year.