COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball junior Sophie Cunningham was named to the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's Late Season Top 20, as announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the first half of the 2017-18 season, the list comprises of 20 student-athletes who are currently front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor that goes to the nation's top collegiate player.
Cunningham is putting together her best season yet, captaining Mizzou to a No. 15 ranking. The junior is averaging a team-high 18.0 points per game, reaching double figures 20 times in 22 games and scoring at least 20 points on 10 different occasions, including four times in the last six games.
Cunningham already ranks 11th on Mizzou's all-time scoring list with 1,386 points and counting. That's the fifth-most among active SEC players and she is the only player in the top five on that list that is not a senior. Cunningham is the only player in the nation this season shooting at least 84 percent from the free throw line, 44 percent from the three-point range and 54 percent from the field.
Cunningham leads the SEC in free throw percentage (min. 75 attempts), shooting 84.9 percent at the line. In conference play, she is averaging 17.2 points per contest while shooting 49.5 percent from the field. She has now reached 20 points in a game on 30 different occasions in her career.
2018 John R. Wooden Award Late Season Top 20
|
Name |
School |
Conference |
Height |
Class |
Position |
|
Kristine Anigwe |
California |
Pac-12 |
6-4 |
Jr. |
C/F |
|
Ariel Atkins |
Texas |
Big 12 |
5-11 |
Sr. |
G |
|
Kalani Brown |
Baylor |
Big 12 |
6-7 |
Jr. |
C |
|
Lexie Brown |
Duke |
ACC |
5-9 |
Sr. |
G |
|
Jordin Canada |
UCLA |
Pac-12 |
5-6 |
Sr. |
G |
|
Napheesa Collier# |
Connecticut |
The American |
6-1 |
Jr. |
F |
|
Missouri |
SEC |
6-1 |
Jr. |
G |
|
|
Asia Durr |
Louisville |
ACC |
5-10 |
Jr. |
G |
|
Katelynn Flaherty |
Michigan |
Big Ten |
5-7 |
Sr. |
G |
|
Megan Gustafson |
Iowa |
Big Ten |
6-3 |
Jr. |
F |
|
Sabrina Ionescu |
Oregon |
Pac-12 |
5-10 |
Soph. |
G |
|
Teaira McCowan |
Mississippi State |
SEC |
6-7 |
Jr. |
C |
|
Kelsey Mitchell# |
Ohio State |
Big Ten |
5-8 |
Sr. |
G |
|
Kia Nurse |
Connecticut |
The American |
6-0 |
Sr. |
G |
|
Arike Ogunbowale |
Notre Dame |
ACC |
5-8 |
Jr. |
G |
|
Katie Lou Samuelson# |
Connecticut |
The American |
6-3 |
Jr. |
G/F |
|
Shakayla Thomas |
Florida State |
ACC |
5-11 |
Sr. |
F |
|
Victoria Vivians |
Mississippi State |
SEC |
6-1 |
Sr. |
G |
|
Gabby Williams |
Connecticut |
The American |
5-11 |
Sr. |
F |
|
A'ja Wilson# |
South Carolina |
SEC |
6-5 |
Sr. |
F |