UNC’s Janelle Bailey Named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year

USA Basketball continued its domination this summer in international play and Janelle Bailey (North Carolina/Matthews, NC) is much to thank for her particular team’s success.  Bailey led the USA Basketball Women’s 3X3 U18 World Cup team to an undefeated (7-0) record and gold medal at the FIBA 3X3 U18 World Cup that took place in Chengdu, China from June 28-July 2.  Bailey’s impact resulted in her being named the 2017 USA Basketball Female of the Year.

As the 38th recipient of Female of the Year, Bailey fulfilled its purpose of awarding the player who has a “significant impact on the success of her team’s performance”  the honors (USA Basketball).  She totaled almost a third of USA’s points through the seven games, finishing with 40 (good for 5.7 PPG) out of 129.  In the gold medal game against the Czech Republic, Bailey scored a team-high 11 points in a USA victory.

Bailey, a University of North Carolina freshman, is the fifth overall player from the ACC to receive Female of the Year; an ACC player has not been awarded FOTY since Crystal Langhorne (Maryland) in 2005.  She makes history as the first USA 3X3 National Team player to receive it.

USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said “was a team leader who helped guide the USA to a gold medal, and…a great ambassador for the United States off the court.”

In response to the achievement, Bailey said “to be recognized as USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year is an honor” and “being a part of USA Basketball has been an extremely incredible opportunity that grateful for.”

Bailey is a first year starter at UNC and is averaging 14.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG and 28.6 MPG in Carolina’s 7-2 record.  She has already earned two Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Week honors, including her latest this week, as she averaged a double-double in a three-win week for the Tarheels.

The Carolina Tarheels take on the Furman Paladins next. The game will be Sunday, December 10 at 2pm ET at Carmichael Arena (Chapel Hill, NC).