The NCAA Ladies’s Nationwide Participant of the 12 months (NPOY) debate is as intently contested because it has been in current reminiscence.
In what may legitimately be considered essentially the most star-studded expertise pool we’ve ever seen within the sport, USC’s JuJu Watkins and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo have emerged as the 2 overwhelming frontrunners for the varied prestigious NPOY honors which are as a consequence of be handed out over the following month or so.
UCLA’s Lauren Betts had a robust candidacy till she was outperformed twice by Watkins in two losses to the Ladies of Troy throughout the final month. UConn’s Paige Bueckers has essentially the most spectacular superior metrics within the nation, although the fifth-year star’s per-game averages don’t fairly stack as much as Watkins’ and Hidalgo’s.
Why JuJu Watkins Deserves The NCAA NPOY
2024-25 stats: 24.7 PTS, 6.8 REB, 3.6 AST
JuJu’s marketing campaign: Watkins’ numbers are down barely from a freshman marketing campaign that noticed her emerge as one of many forefront stars within the sport, however the assertion USC made in its first Large 10 season was essentially the most spectacular achievement of Watkins’ profession so far.
The sophomore famous person led USC to an outright Large 10 title with a 17-1 report in convention play, main the convention in scoring and rating second nationally. Even with high-profile transfers Kiki Iriafen and Talia Van Oelhoffen becoming a member of USC within the offseason, Watkins has nonetheless led the workforce in scoring in 23 of its 30 video games thus far.
The Ladies of Troy are presently 28-2 general and so they superior to the Large 10 event last with a win over Michigan on Saturday.
Signature performances: Watkins established herself because the frontrunner for participant of the yr with an all-time efficiency in USC’s 71-60 win over then unbeaten and top-ranked UCLA. Watkins tallied 38 factors, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and eight blocks with six 3-pointers, a stat line unmatched throughout all of Division I hoops within the final 20 years. The Ladies of Troy accomplished the season sweep over Betts and the Bruins final week, as Watkins had one other signature 30-point efficiency whereas taunting the UCLA trustworthy. Watkins additionally led USC to a 72-70 win over then-No.2 UConn in December, tallying 25 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists.
Why Hannah Hidalgo Deserves The NCAA NPOY
2024-25 stats: 24.2 PTS, 5.2 REB, 3.7 AST
Hannah’s marketing campaign: The sophomore Hidalgo earned ACC Participant of the 12 months honors for the second consecutive season, main the ACC in scoring with 24.2 factors per sport whereas main the Combating Irish to a 25-4 report throughout the common season.
With the assistance of teammates Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron, Hidalgo pushed Notre Dame to a 16-2 report in ACC play. Even with Miles and Citron within the fold, nevertheless, Hidalgo led the Combating Irish in scoring in 24 of their 31 video games general. Hidalgo scored at the least 20+ factors in 25 video games this season, together with a stretch 14 consecutive video games from early December to mid-February.
Even in right now’s 61-59 gorgeous ACC event loss in opposition to Duke, Hidalgo led all Irish with 23 factors, two rebounds, and three assists. As well as, her defensive prowess was on full show, tallying a complete of six steals.
Signature performances: Hidalgo led Notre Dame to a 74-61 over Watkins and then-No.3 USC on the Cayman Islands Traditional in November, matching Watkins complete of 24 factors on a extra environment friendly day from the sector. Oh, and he or she additionally racked up two extra assists than Watkins in addition.
Hidalgo moreover led Notre Dame to a 78-69 victory over then-No. 2 UConn in December, almost tallying a triple-double with 29 factors, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Hidalgo and Notre Dame even have a win over the present No. 1 workforce within the nation, as they beat Texas 80-70 in December as properly on the shoulders of 30 factors and eight rebounds from Hidalgo.
