Paopao Named to Nancy Lieberman Award Top 10
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior Te-Hina Paopao earned a spot on the 2024 Nancy Lieberman Award Top 10, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today. Now in its 25th year, the award recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Div. I college basketball. To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
Paopao’s confidence and temperament made an immediate impact at South Carolina with her impact going well beyond the box score, which only compounds her contributions to returning the program to the No. 1 ranking it held throughout the previous two seasons. The three-time All-Pac 12 performer for Oregon now leads the SEC and the nation in 3-point percentage (.558). Her marksmanship has been contagious as the Gamecocks also lead the nation in 3-point percentage (.441). Paopao is second in the SEC with 2.69 made threes per game, and her 12.5 points per game are just outside the league’s top 20. Beyond her scoring, the senior is eighth in the league in assists per game (4.0) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.37).
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Fri., Jan. 26, on HoopHallAwards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process. In March, five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, which is comprised of top women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The 2024 Nancy Lieberman Award winner will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center), in addition to the Men’s Starting Five.
No. 1/1 South Carolina is back in action on Thu., Jan. 25, at No. 9/9 LSU. Tipoff on ESPN is set for 8 p.m. ET with ESPN’s College GameDay airing at 7 p.m. ET ahead of the game.
Stay tuned to GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for more information on the program.
2024 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Top 10
Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech
Sarah Andrews, Baylor
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
McKenna Hofschild, Colorado State
Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
Kiki Rice, UCLA
Shyanne Sellers, Maryland
Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State
Jaylyn Sherrod, Colorado
