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GREENSBORO – The 2017-18 basketball season officially tips off on Friday, Nov. 10, and ACC women’s basketball teams and student-athletes are in the spotlight.
Below is a breakdown of preseason rankings, honors and awards watch lists in which the league’s schools have been recognized.

Preseason Associated Press Top 25
The ACC has four teams ranked in the Top 25, including two in the Top 10: No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 9 Louisville, No. 12 Duke and No. 18 Florida State. Six ACC teams are receiving votes: Virginia, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Georgia Tech and Syracuse. The ACC’s 10 teams that are either ranked or receiving votes are the most of any league.

Preseason Associated Press All-America Team
The ACC has two players among the nine who received votes for the Associated Press Preseason All-America Team. Included on that list are Duke red-shirt senior guard Lexie Brown and Florida State senior forward Shakalya Thomas. The Associated Press Preseason All-America Team includes five players.

USA Today/Coaches Preseason Top 25
The USA Today Sports Preseason Top 25 women’s basketball coaches poll has been released, and the ACC has five teams ranked in the Top 25, including four in the top 14 – the most of any league. Notre Dame is the highest-ranked ACC team at No. 5, followed by No. 10 Louisville, No. 12 Duke, No. 14. Florida State and No. 24 Miami.
Five ACC teams are receiving votes, including NC State, Syracuse, Virginia, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. The ACC’s 10 teams that are either ranked or receiving votes are the most of any league.

Nancy Lieberman Award
Duke redshirt senior guard Lexie Brown and Virginia Tech junior guard Chanette Hicks are among the 20 players named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List announced by the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. The Nancy Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in NCAA Division I College Basketball.

The candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. 

The Selection Committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2018 Lieberman Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.

The winner of the 2018 Lieberman Award will be announced at an inaugural awards ceremony hosted by the Basketball Hall of Fame, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and ESPN at the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. ESPN broadcast information will be released at a later date.

Ann Meyers Drysdale Award
Duke redshirt senior guard Rebecca Greenwell, Louisville junior guard Asia Durr and Notre Dame junior guard Arike Ogumbowale are three of 20 candidates named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.  The annual award in its inaugural year recognizes the top shooting guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. 

The award is named after Ann Meyers Drysdale, who was the first player, male or female, to be named to the All-America Team in four straight college seasons at UCLA.

The Selection Committee for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2018 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Drysdale and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.

The winner of the 2018 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award will be announced at an inaugural awards ceremony hosted by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and ESPN at the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. ESPN broadcast information will be released at a later date.  

Cheryl Miller Award
Florida State senior forward Shakayla Thomas is one of 20 candidates named to the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List  announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. 

Named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year, the annual award in its inaugural year recognizes the top small forwards in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.

The Selection Committee for the Cheryl Miller Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2018 Cheryl Miller Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Miller and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.

The winner of the 2018 Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award will be announced during ESPN2’s telecast of the national semifinal games in the 2018 NCAA Women’s Final Four in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, March 30. 

Katrina McClain Award
Duke sophomore forward Leaonna Odom, Louisville senior forward Myisha Hines Allen and Miami senior foward Erykah Davenport are three of 20 candidates named to the Katrina McClain Award Watch List announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. 

Named after the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its inaugural year recognizes the top power forwards in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.

The Selection Committee for the Katrina McClain Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2018 Katrina McClain Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain-Pittman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.

The winner of the 2018 Katrina McClain Power Forward Award will be announced during ESPN2’s telecast of the national semifinal games in the 2018 NCAA Women’s Final Four in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, March 30.  


Lisa Leslie Award
Duke senior center Erin Mathias, Florida State senior center Chatrice White and NC State senior center Akela Maize are three of 20 candidates on the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List. 

The award is named after the three-time All-America and 1994 National Player of the Year, Lisa Leslie and is in its inaugural year.  It recognizes the top centers in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. 

The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2018 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com. 

The winner of the 2018 Lisa Leslie Center Award will be announced during ESPN2’s telecast of the national semifinal games in the 2018 NCAA Women’s Final Four in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, March 30.