Aug. 23, 2011

2011-12 Preseason Wade Watch List

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford women's basketball standouts Nnemkadi and Chiney Ogwumike were named as candidates on the 2011-12 Preseason Wade Watch List for the State Farm Wade Trophy, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Tuesday.

The 25-player list is composed of top NCAA Division I student-athletes from 17 institutions and seven conferences who best embody Wade's spirit. A committee of coaches, administrators and media from across the United States compiled the list using the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability.

Stanford was one of six schools to have multiple candidates on the list. Baylor, Miami and Tennessee also had two candidates, while Connecticut and Notre Dame had three apiece.

The Ogwumike sisters, who will enter their second campaign together on The Farm in 2011-12, helped the USA Basketball Women's World University Games Team to its fourth straight gold medal at the event Monday in Shenzhen, China.

With the Cardinal coming off of a fourth consecutive Final Four appearance in 2011, the Ogwumikes will be among those hoping to lead the team to the 2012 edition in Denver and the program's third national title.

Nnemkadi Ogwumike, a two-time WBCA State Farm Coaches' All-American (2010-11) enters her senior season for the Cardinal with a chance to join Nicole Powell (2002-04) and Candice Wiggins (2005-08) as the program's only three-time WBCA All-Americans.

Heading into her final season on The Farm, the elder Ogwumike has scored 1,682 points and grabbed 858 rebounds, putting her in prime position to become only Stanford's fourth player to record 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Her 60.1 career shooting percentage is tops in Stanford history heading into the new season.

Last season, Nnemkadi was named to the State Farm Coaches' All-America Team for the second straight year, also earning All-America nods from the Associated Press (Second Team), USBWA and John Wooden Award. She led the Pac-10 in scoring (17.5 ppg) and shooting (58.6 FG pct.) while grabbing 7.6 rebounds a game. An All-Pac-10 Team selection, she was also named Most Outstanding Player of both the Pac-10 Tournament and the Spokane Regional during the postseason.

Reigning Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Chiney Ogwumike begins her sophomore campaign following a rookie season in which she averaged 11.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting 57.4 percent from the field. She also led the Cardinal with 52 steals.

Along with capturing the conference's top honor for rookies, Ogwumike was also named to the All-Pac-10, All-Freshman and All-Defensive Teams.

In the postseason, the younger Ogwumike continued her roll, being named to the Pac-10 All-Tournament and Spokane All-Regional Teams.

Two Stanford players have won the Wade Trophy before: Jennifer Azzi (1990) and Candice Wiggins (2008).

Stanford will open the 2011-12 campaign on the road, traveling to Austin to take on the University of Texas Friday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. PT. The Cardinal's 2011-12 home opener will take place two days later, Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. against Gonzaga in a rematch of last year's Spokane Regional Final.