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Naismith Trophy midseason list announced: Sabrina Ionescu the frontrunner

By Carly Grenfell

PALO ALTO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Oregon Guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) shoots over Stanford Forward Alanna Smith (11) during the women's basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion on February 10, 2019 in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Oregon Guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) shoots over Stanford Forward Alanna Smith (11) during the women's basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion on February 10, 2019 in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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And then there were 30.

The Women’s Citizen Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List of 50 players has been narrowed down to a 30-player midseason team as of Monday. Although it’s 20 down from a couple of months ago, Notre Dame, Connecticut and Oregon still have strong representation. The Fighting Irish lead all nominees with five, while the Huskies and Ducks have three apiece.

2019 Women’s Citizen Naismith Trophy Midseason Team

  • Kristine Anigwe (California)
  • Kalani Brown (Baylor)
  • Bridget Carleton (Iowa State)
  • Chennedy Carter (Texas A&M)
  • Kaila Charles (Maryland)
  • Napheesa Collier (Uconn)
  • Lauren Cox (Baylor)
  • Sophie Cunningham (Missouri)
  • Crystal Dangerfield (Uconn)
  • Asia Durr (Louisville)
  • Megan Gustafson (Iowa)
  • Ruthy Hebard (Oregon
  • Natisha Hiedeman (Marquette)
  • Anriel Howard (Mississippi State)
  • Megan Huff (Utah)
  • Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon)
  • Marina Mabrey (Oregon)
  • Tiana Mangakahia (Syracuse)
  • Tynice Martin (West Virginia)
  • Teaira McCowan (Mississippi State)
  • Beatrice Mompremier (Miami)
  • Maci Morris (Kentucky)
  • Arike Ogunbowale (Notre Dame)
  • Satou Sabally (Oregon)
  • Katie Lou Samuelson (Uconn)
  • Jessica Shepard (Notre Dame)
  • Destiny Slocum (Oregon State)
  • Alanna Smith (Stanford)
  • Brianna Turner (Notre Dame)
  • Jackie Young (Notre Dame)

If history repeats itself, UConn will win, as they have won the most (10) Naismith trophies of any program. But the script that’s being written this year for the Huskies has been somewhat unorthodox — and this year’s winner could follow a similar storyline.

With Baylor taking the top spot in the latest Associated Press poll, followed by Oregon (No. 2), Louisville (No. 3), Connecticut (No. 4) and Mississippi State (No. 5), with Notre Dame snagging No. 6, it’s unusual enough to see anyone other than UConn in the No. 1 position, especially at this point in the season.

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With eyes on several other teams as we head into March Madness, let’s turn our attention to one of them: Oregon and Sabrina Ionescu. The triple-double queen will certainly make into the Top 10 National Semifinalists roster in March. She’s had so many triple-doubles that one actually qualified for “one of the worst triple-doubles she’s ever had.”

That should be a sign.

For one, the Ducks put up an unbelievable performance against No. 11 Stanford the other night, blowing them out by 40 points. Oregon moved to 23-1 after that dominating win and remain undefeated in the Pac-12. Ionescu has been a model of consistency all year long. In more ways than one, as she goes, Oregon goes.

The junior is averaging just under 20 points per game to go with 7.3 rebounds and an NCAA-leading 8.2 assists per game. The next highest assist total on Oregon’s squad, to Ionescu’s 196 this year, is 119.

Ionescu is ultimately the floor general for the Ducks, and has been for the last three years, but can also score at an extremely efficient rate, rebound and defend. That’s someone who is deserving of a Naismith Trophy.

On March 4, 2019, the midseason team of 30 shrinks to 10 national semifinalists. The four finalists will be announced on March 22, 2019, and the 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy for Women’s Player of the Year will be announced the weekend of the Final Four on April 6, 2019.

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