MANHATTAN – K-State’s Ayoka Lee, among the national leaders in a number of statistical categories, has played her way onto the 2022 Wade Trophy Watch List in an announcement by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). This is the second time Lee has been a candidate for the Wade Trophy, as she was a member of the 2020-21 Wade Trophy Watch List, but was not originally included on the 2022 preseason list.
Lee is now a candidate for every top women’s basketball honor as she is on the Midseason Team for the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Watch List, the 2022 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year top-15, a 2022 Wooden Award Late Season Watch List member and the 2022 Lisa Leslie Award Watch List – given to the nation’s top center.
The Wade Trophy, now in its 45th year, is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen.
First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001. This is the first year that freshmen players are eligible for the award. However, no freshmen are on the Wade Watch list.
The WBCA will announce the four finalists for the honor in mid-March. The winner of the 2022 Wade Trophy will be announced in late March or early April on a date to be determined.
For the season, Lee leads the Big 12 and ranks third in the nation in scoring average (24.7 ppg), leads the Big 12 and is second in the nation in total points (569) and leads the nation in field goals made (235).
The product of Byron, Minnesota, tops the Big 12 in field goal percentage (.582) and blocks (3.2 bpg). She also leads the Big 12 in 30-point games (8) and 20-point games (13) and second in the league and 10th in the nation in double-doubles (14).
A two-time United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week recipient, Lee’s 569 points and 235 made field goals are new career single-season highs. She is the second player in program history with 500 or more points, 225 or more rebounds and 70 or more blocks. Lee has registered 139 more points than the next closest player on the Big 12 scoring list.
Lee, a four-time Big 12 Player of the Week selection and a three-time ESPN.com National Player of the Week honoree, is second in the Big 12 in rebounding (10.7 rpg) and seventh in free throw percentage (.767).
Lee is the only player in the nation to average 20 or more points, 10 or more rebounds and 3 or more blocks.
In league play, Lee leads the Big 12 in scoring (25.8 ppg), field goal percentage (.594) and rebounds (9.7 rpg). She is second in the league in blocked shots (2.2 bpg).
K-State begins a two-game road trip tonight, as the Wildcats visit Waco, Texas, to face (10/11) Baylor at 7 p.m. Tonight’s game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The game will also be available on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.
2021-22 Wade Watch List
Shakira Austin, Ole Miss
Kierstan Bell, Florida Gulf Coast
Grace Berger, Indiana
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Cameron Brink, Stanford
Leigha Brown, Michigan
Paige Bueckers, Connecticut
Rae Burrell, Tennessee
Veronica Burton, Northwestern
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Nia Clouden, Michigan State
Zia Cooke, South Carolina
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech
Elissa Cunane, NC State
Monika Czinano, Iowa
Destanni Henderson, South Carolina
Naz Hillmon, Michigan
Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Ashley Joens, Iowa State
Haley Jones, Stanford
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
Charlisse Leger-Walker, Washington State
Diamond Miller, Maryland
Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Connecticut
Charisma Osborne, UCLA
Ashley Owusu, Maryland
Ali Patberg, Indiana
Khayla Pointer, LSU
Angel Reese, Maryland
Nyara Sabally, Oregon
Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State
Maddy Siegrist, Villanova
NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville
Christyn Williams, Connecticut
– kstatesports.com –