
Paopao Named to Lieberman Award Top 10
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball senior Te-Hina Paopao was among the Top 10 candidates for the 2025 Nancy Lieberman Award, the Naismith Hall of Fame in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today. It is her second time in as many seasons on the award’s top 10 list, and she was one of five finalists last season. The Gamecock senior was also among the 50 players on the USBWA National Player of the Year Midseason Watch List.
After grabbing All-America recognition last season, Paopao has broadened her further game this season, becoming a force on defense and a multi-level threat on offense. Her 10.6 points per game include 11.9 per game in her 10 games against ranked opponents and have come on a career-best 48.4 percent field goal shooting. Paopao is scoring 4.4 points per game from the 3-point line, 3.9 from the paint and 1.7 from mid-range. She is second on the team with 2.8 assists per game, meaning she has her hands on 22.4 percent of the Gamecocks’ total offense. In SEC action, her assists rise to 3.1 per game, and her 1.75 assist-to-turnover ratio is 13th-best in the league.
Now in its 26th year, the Nancy Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered for the prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman. In March, the Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, where winners will be selected. The selection committee is composed of top women’s basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining round starting on Fri., Feb. 7 at HoopHallAwards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
The winner of the 2025 Lieberman Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date along with the four other 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).
No. 2/2 South Carolina is on the road for a pair of games this week, beginning on Thu., Feb. 6, at Georgia.
Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on South Carolina women’s basketball.
Lieberman Award Top 10
Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
Paige Bueckers, UConn
Katie Dinnebier, Drake
Rori Harmon, Texas
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame
Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
Kiki Rice, UCLA
Serena Sundell, Kansas State
Harmoni Turner, Harvard
Hailey Van Lith, TCU
USBWA Midseason Watch List
Destiny Adams, Rutgers
Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
Julia Ayrault, Michigan State
Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama
Zania Barnett-Gay, Navy
Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Madison Booker, Texas
Paige Buechers UConn
Jaloni Cambridge, Ohio State
Dani Carnegie, Georgia Tech
Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
Audi Crooks, Iowa State
Katie Dinnebier, Drake
Kara Dunn, Georgia Tech
Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga
Toby Fournier, Duke
Rori Harmon, Texas
Stailee Heard, Oklahoma State
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Izzy Higginbottom, Arkansas
Aziaha James, NC State
Jordyn Jenkins, UTSA
Flau’Jae Johnson, LSU
Taylor Jones, Texas
Gianna Kneepkens, Utah
Iaonna Krimili, Cal
Grace Larkins, South Dakota
Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State
Megan McConnell, Duquesne
Cotie McMahon, Ohio State
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame
Aneesah Morrow, LSU
Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
Khamil Pierre, Vanderbitl
Sedona Prince, TCU
Sammie Puisis, South Florida
JJ Quinerly, West Virginia
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Kaylene Smikle, Maryland
Ashley Sofilkanich, Bucknell
Sarah Strong, UConn
Harmoni Turner, Harvard
Rachel Ullstrom, Richmond
Alyssa Ustby, North Carolina
Haily Van Lith, TCU
JuJu Watkins, Southern Cal
Riley Weiss, Columbia
Laura Ziegler, Saint Joseph’s